Ashley didn’t think he’d be on plane to Russia
Ashley Young is honest enough to admit that, this time 12 months ago, he wasn’t expecting to be heading to Russia.
Young had not played for England for more than four years. But he faced an even bigger fight to maintain his Manchester United career.
He was forced to reinvent himself from a left winger to a left-back. But he impressed Jose M our in ho and kept natural full- backs like Luke Shaw and Daley Blind on the sidelines.
Such was his consistent form for United that Gareth Southgate couldn’t ignore him and recalled him last November.
Now he’s part of the World Cup squad, and the oldest member of the 23-man group at 32.
There is also a very strong chance that Young will get the nod to start at left wing- back in the opening game against Tunisia on June 18.
“If I looked back a year ago, I don’t think there would have been many people who would have said I’d be going to the World Cup,” he admitted.
“I’m an honest person and I know that. But when you get your head down and you have that work ethic to succeed, I never wrote off my chances.
“I just needed to play football.
“Whether that was going to be as a left winger, a left- back or a left wing- back, I was going out there to give 100% and hoped to be on the plane.
“I’ve managed to do that, and I’m probably the most excited I’ve ever been.
“I feel like a kid again, going to a World Cup.
“It’s ever y player’s dream and they don’t get any bigger than this. I just want to get out there.
“It’s the same with every player in the squad. Everyone was a fan one d a y. We know the excitement of going to a World Cup.”
Young may not be the flying winger he was from previous years at United – and before that at Aston Villa – but he is certainly not complaining.
“Careers work in strange ways,” he said. “I played as a winger for years and years, but you have to be able to adapt.
“Different managers play different formations.
“The game is getting quicker and at times you have to change formations during games.
“If you have a good footballing brain, and you have the hunger and desire along with the will to work every day in training and can read the game, then you can play in a number of positions.
“I’ve played that and I found it quite easy to adapt.
“I have a good football brain, so I know where to be on the pitch and when to go forward and when to defend.
“So I’m just enjoying my football again.”