Villa's fight to keep Stewart Downing

Luke Young has admitted Villa face a battle to keep Stewart Downing's after the winger collected three awards at the club's annual awards night.

Downing scooped the Supporters' Player of The Season and the Players' Player of The Year as well as the FxPro top star award at the ceremony held at Villa Park last night.

The 26-year-old has been the subject of interest from other Premier League clubs including Liverpool and Arsenal and Young believes Villa must fight tooth and nail to keep him.

He said: "Stewart has been brilliant. I played with him at Middlesbrough so I knew the potential that he's got.

"Now he is showing that form and you've got bigger clubs sniffing around him and it's obviously going to be difficult for us to keep him.

"We haven't had a great season, so I think some of the bigger clubs are having a look at him and rightly so with the form he has shown.

"He is one that we hope stays because he is a big player for us on either side. He has become more of a right-sided winger and cutting in on his left foot this season and he has done ever so well.

"The bigger clubs are circling for Ashley Young as well so it is going to be a difficult summer for us and hopefully we can keep hold of both of them.

"We certainly wouldn't want to lose both of them."

The experienced full-back also believes that Downing now has the opportunity to go and make himself a permanent fixture in the England set-up.

Downing's performances for Villa this season have seen him included in coach Fabio Capello's plans and Young is confident that, given a run in the side, he will be a hit.

He said: "I think he is starting to believe that he can establish himself and with Stewart, when he is on song and confident, that is when you see the best of him.

"It is just about getting minutes on the pitch for England. It is difficult. There are lots of very good players and you go with a lot of squads and come on for 10-15 minutes.

"You actually need to be given a run of games like Ashley Young has been given.

"He has taken his chance and maybe Stewart needs that as well."