UNITED Young: I still have fire and hunger in my belly at United

ASHLEY Young doesn’t know what the future holds for him at United.

But the Reds’ versatile winger-cumfull-back is not ready to take a back seat at Old Trafford and has the thirst for more success.

The 31-year-old has done a domestic clean sweep since moving from Aston Villa in 2011 picking up Premier League, FA Cup and EFL Cup medals.

Up to mid-February, however, his United stay looked to be petering out with only five starts and four substitute appearances under manager Jose Mourinho.

It led to reports that Young was set to sign a bonanza £10m salary deal and move to China with Shandong Luneng, who were keen to lure him to the burgeoning Chinese Super League.

But since Young has started nine matches in United’s last 15 and captained the Reds in their 2-0 win against league leaders Chelsea on Sunday.

Young says the China talk didn’t disrupt his plans to convince Mourinho that he is still worth a place in his XI.

“There was, of course, speculation and there is always speculation and especially when there is a transfer window and you are not playing. But I was concentrating on Manchester United,” said Young.

“But I have always said that I want to play as much as possible. What the future holds I am not too sure.

“I am just concentrating on each game and when the manager calls on me I will give 100 per cent and look to play as well as I can.

“I am looking to play as many games as I can between now and the end of the season. That is what I am concentrating on now.

“That is the main focus for me and then we will see what happens.

“I have fire and hunger in my belly. I want to succeed.

“I work hard. When you have such competition in a fantastic squad it pushes you on every day. If you watched training there are no challenges that are not like in a game.

“Everybody wants to pull on the shirt and I am no different.”

Young was expected to be discarded by Louis van Gaal in the summer of 2015 but then out of the blue that August signed a new deal until 2018.

There is still speculation that he could again be surplus to requirements when Mourinho revamps his squad this summer.

“I have another year left on my contract and then an option of another year after that so if there is anything there to be discussed you would have to ask the manager,” Young added.