Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has praised the impact of Ashley Young during the current campaign and believes the Englishman could have a similar role to play next term. The 33-year-old has been the undisputed first-choice in the left-back position this season, contributing two goals and seven assists in 36 appearances for the club.
“In two years, we managed to have him, even with the important injury he had at the end of last season, but we had him for lots of matches, being important, probably going to the World Cup [with Gareth Southgate’s England]. I think he’s better now than he was two years ago. That’s the way I see things and, next year again, he will be an important member of our squad. If he’s now on 200, I hope, next season, he goes into the 250s.”
Young has always possessed the gift of pushing forward in attack-minded situations but over the season, he has showed vast improvement on the defensive side of his game. His best performance came in a 2-1 win over Liverpool where he vastly limited the movement of Mohamed Salah and this showing has pretty much assured him of a World Cup spot with England.
The former Aston Villa man currently has around 13 months left on his existing contract but judging by Mourinho’s comments, it would not come as a surprise, if the club are to reward with another one-year extension. United are still expected to find a long-term successor to Young with Luke Shaw, Daley Blind and Matteo Darmian struggling to impress on the left side of the defence.