YOUNG AND ALLI END THEIR ZIMMERING FEUD

United and Spurs stars will go to Russia with love

ASHLEY YOUNG and Dele Alli have buried the hatchet over their “zimmer frame” bust-up. Alli told Young to “retire with a zimmer frame” after the England pair clashed in October during Manchester United’s 1-0 win over Tottenham in October. United star Young, 32, came back with a sharp retort of “let me know when you win the Premier League” in a

ASHLEY YOUNG has become England’s elder statesman – but will never grow old gracefully.

Young, 32, is the oldest member of Gareth Southgate’s England squad for Russia this summer and is happy to be the agony uncle if any of the younger players need advice. But Young, five months older than the other 32-yearold Gary Cahill, also insists he is not calming down with age and his aggression and tough tackling since converting from winger to fullback have increased. Young said: “It is a younger squad. I was talking to Gaz Cahill earlier about me and him being the oldest. “Some would say the seniors, we say the oldest ones. It is a fantastic group of boys. “A lot of them have played in major tournaments already. They know what is to come. “But the ones that haven’t, every player is given advice if they want to talk to players who have been. “It is totally different to qualification. The togetherness in this squad has been fantastic. The way we qualified was brilliant. When we eventually get out to Russia, the togetherness and team spirit we have shown so far will take us a long way. Everyone just wants it to start now.

“A lot of things have been said by previous players but, here, everybody gets on.

“Everyone is pulling in the same direction. Obviously there is club rivalry but when you are here with England, you are representing your country. It is an honour for myself, the whole team and squad.

“The rivalries get put to bed. The team spirit and togetherness we have got has been shown. It is unbelievable.”

Manchester United star Young (above with Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling and Jesse Lingard in training) has enjoyed a remarkable return to the England set-up after a four-year exile.

He was a key figure at Euro 2012, but was then out in the cold until November 2017 when Southgate brought him back.

Young is now favourite in the England manager’s mind to start as left wing-back, even ahead of Danny Rose because of his impressive, tenacious performances for United.

It has been a stunning transformation from winger to defender and, with those fierce tackles, it often looks as if he is even hungrier than before.

Young said: “I’m not sure what it is. Maybe you see me tackle more. I’ve always been a born winner, always wanted to go and win.

“I’m nearly 33 but there are still titles and trophies I want to win. There is none bigger than the World Cup.

“I’ve had the same desire since I started kicking a football when I was five. I don’t think that has ever left me. I’m not one of those players who talks about things off the field.

“It’s about what trophies and titles and cups you’ve won and I will be able to look back on my career and say, ‘I’ve won this…’

“I see a similarity with the whole squad. Everybody’s a winner. You see after training, when we’ve played games, people come off the pitch disappointed if they’ve lost.

“I don’t think you go into a tournament not trying to win.”