Aston Villa boss Gerard Houllier is relaxed for winger Ashley Young to delay talks over a new contract until next summer. Young had intimated earlier this month that he was ready to commit his future to Villa, while Houllier was confident a contract would be signed "sooner rather than later".
But the player has announced that he wanted to concentrate on his football and any talks over a potential new deal would not happen until the end of the campaign.
Houllier, said: "I am quite happy with what Ashley has said.
"He loves the fans here, he enjoys his football and, since I've come here, he very much enjoys the way he is progressing.
"I am quite happy with what he has said, that he wants to concentrate on his football and talk about it (his contract) at the end of the season.
"At the end of the day he is not in the same situation as Wayne Rooney was because he re-signed a contract two years ago so it is a bit different.
"I am happy. He looks happy. He is fine. He enjoys his football and you know when you are not happy, you don't improve.
"All I can see is he is a major part of our team but also a major part of our atmosphere and is lively and jovial. We like that, the way he behaves."
But Houllier admitted: "A lot of things can happen, I can understand that.
"I've been here just over a month. Maybe he needs to know more. "He needs to know about the ambition of the club but he knows he is a key part of our future and that's it."
