Promising winger Ashley Young has urged manager Martin O'Neill to remain with Aston Villa.

Recent speculation has the Northern Irishman linked with a departure from the Midlands club due to a reported stoush with club owner Randy Lerner over transfer funds but Young is hopeful the boss will stick around as Villa continues to improve.

"Of course Martin is integral to taking Villa on to the next stage," Young said.

"Since the gaffer has come in the club has gone up step by step and is progressing in the right direction and you can't ask for any more than that.

"If you'd said to us at the start of the season we would get to the Carling Cup final, the FA Cup semi-finals and go into April still with a chance of finishing fourth you would have taken that.

"I believe everyone knows we have had a good season but there is still a lot of work to be done.

"We have got the players and the will to fight and win. If you have got that instilled in you, you have always got a chance."