CSKA Moscow’s plastic pitch will give them an unfair advantage over Villa tomorrow night, Luke Young insisted today.

The defender was on the bench for England when they were defeated by Russia on the very same Luzhniki Stadium surface in a Euro 2008 qualifier.

And Young, one of just three Villa players who started against Chelsea to have made the trip for tomorrow night’s UEFA Cup second leg, is surprised the football authorities allow it to be used for big international and European fixtures.

“It’s an artificial pitch and I’m not quite sure it’s fair,” said Young.

“We don’t really play on them at all, but they play week in, week out on it, at home at least, so they’ll be a lot more used to it.

“I’m surprised that it is allowed in this level of competition but then again England went over there and had to play.

“I’m sure there’s other venues these games could be played at on grass, but we’ll only really see what it’s like when we get over there.

“We’ve got the facilities to practise indoors on artificial surfaces but they’ll have the advantage because they play on it all the time.”

In-form full-back Young has advised them to take a variety of boots.

“I was on the bench for the England game when they lost over there so I sort of know what it’s like, but you don’t know whether to wear moulds or studs or what,” said Young.

“The night before, when we’re training, I think the lads will have to take a few different pairs of boots with them to see what they’re going to be wearing during the game. It bounces a lot more and you can’t afford to let it bounce otherwise it’s 10-15ft in the air.

“There’s a few of our lads that don’t really like training on it because it hurts their joints, the knees, their ankles,” added Young.

“It’s not the best thing to be playing on.”