Manchester United winger Ashley Young is linked with a move back to his old club Watford as per reports in the English press. Despite having been turned away by Watford’s Academy after an unsuccessful spell, Young endeavoured to improve himself as a player and was eventually offered a professional deal by the club.
The 18-year-old was handed his first-team debut under Ray Lewington in September 2003, scoring as a substitute against Millwall. He achieved five substitute appearances that season, scoring three goals, and made his first start for the club in the League Cup. After spending 4 years at the club, Young left for Aston Villa in the winter of 2007, but not before he made himself a firm fan-favourite by scoring 15 goals in the previous season, helping the Hornets securing promotion into the Premier League.
After further improving his reputation at Aston Villa, the Englishman joined Manchester United in 2011 and won the Premier League crown in 2012/13 season. However, over the last two seasons, Young has struggled to get adequate game time at Old Trafford and when he did he had to play as a left fullback rather than upfront on the wings.
Louis van Gaal played him as a left fullback but under Jose Mourinho, Young has made only 7 appearances this season in all competitions. It is now reported that a host of clubs are interested in signing the versatile winger and Watford are one of the suitors.
Walter Mazzarri’s Watford have been very unpredictable this season with the team winning 5 games and losing 6 from their 14 matches. The Hornets are currently 11th in the table but it is clear that they will need some reinforcements in the winter to shore up their leaky defence as well as bolster their attack.
Ashley Young in many ways can be an excellent addition. Young’s mobility on the flanks with previous experience of playing as a fullback would serve him perfectly in a 3-5-2 system currently employed at Vicarage Road. Despite him not being a regular at United, the former Watford player has made 287 appearances in the Premier League in his career and remains a hugely experienced player who has the ability to shine for most of the clubs playing in the top tier.
Young’s inclusion would help Watford add a lot more bite into their attack, having the added quality during the set-piece situations. A former player of the club, one who is quite familiar with the atmosphere, it won’t be a problem for the Englishman to gel with the conditions and the change in the environment as he knows it all too well.
Mazzarri will have the provision of greater tactical flexibility with Young in his squad and the player’s versatility would serve the Hornets well in their quest of having another strong season in the Premier League this season.
