Ashley's too Young to judge him
Villa boss Martin O'Neill insists it will be "three or four years" before he could say whether winger Ashley Young is as good as European Cup winner Tony Morley.
Ashley Young" class="imageframe imgalignright" height="130" src="http://www.expressandstar.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/153soccer-barclays.thumbnail.jpg" width="175"/>Villa boss Martin O'Neill insists it will be "three or four years" before he could say whether winger Ashley Young is as good as European Cup winner Tony Morley.
Young has just celebrated his first full season in the Premier League by being voted into the PFA's team of the year by his fellow professionals.
The 22-year-old has also scored seven and set up 17 of Villa's 69 League goals – the highest number of assists of any top flight player and won two England caps.
"I thought it was absolutely fantastic and well done him," said O'Neill of Young's honour. "It's wonderful.
"When you consider some of the players who didn't make that team, it's a fantastic achievement and one that's well worthy of mention."
O'Neill revealed assistant boss and Nottingham Forest great John Robertson also achieved the feat and he believes the award retains its honour in the game.
"I remember years ago when John Robertson got into the side," said the Villa chief. "John was a really fine player. I remember he was absolutely chuffed to bits to be chosen by his fellow professionals.
"Mind you Forest were going great at the time, and it was a big honour."
Morley was the architect behind many goals in the hugely successful Villa team of the early 1980s that won the League title in 1981 and the European Cup the following year.
But O'Neill believes comparisons between the two wingers of different vintage are unfair.
"Tony Morley was a great player for Villa for a fairly lengthy time," said the boss.
"Everybody knows Tony Morley had a great career and was a great player.
"He was so significant in the winning of the Championship and the European Cup. So I'm loathe to draw comparisons to anybody just starting out.
"If I'm asked the question about Morley and Young in three or four years' time, it might be possibly easier answered and the comparison might be proper.
"Morley was terrific and Ashley is starting out."