Boss says young-at-heart Ash can reach 250 games

JOSE Mourinho says Ashley Young will be a significant part of his United squad next season.

And the Reds boss insists the 32-year-old is better than when he arrived to manage the club two years ago.

Mourinho has been tipped to buy a left-back this summer with doubts over Luke Shaw’s future at the club.

But the Portuguese is confident Young has more to give.

Young, signed as a winger by Sir Alex Ferguson in 2011, has operated as a left-back under Mourinho, featuring 36 times this season.

And the manager is delighted with what the England man has contributed.

“When I arrived, he was playing a few matches per season,” said Mourinho on MUTV.

“For the last couple of seasons, lots of injuries, lots of doubts, lots of question marks about his future at the highest level.

“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.”