Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill insists winger Ashley Young remains in top form.

O'Neill has hit back at his critics and ­insisted that Young, last ­season's PFA Young Player of the Year, is performing as well as ever.

He said: "This idea that people say that he's not had the season as before, I just don't agree with that.

"Maybe it is because James Milner has had such a great season, and perhaps because Ashley has been overlooked for a squad or two, so people think he mustn't be doing this or that any more.

"But I can only go on the evidence of my own eyes and I think he is as good as ever, if not better."