Liverpool target wants to play at highest level

Ashley Young admits he wants to play 'at the highest level' as he prepares to discuss his future with Aston Villa chairman Randy Lerner.

Young, scorer of England's equaliser against Switzerland on Saturday, has been strongly linked with a move to Liverpool or Manchester United this summer.

He has only one year remaining on his Villa contract and wants to experience Champions League football and play in World Cups and European Championships.

Young said: "I've always had the belief I can play at the highest level.

"I've always had self-belief. I've always had the confidence I can play at the highest level.

"I want to test myself at World Cups, European Championships and the Champions League.

"As a kid you always want to play in the best competitions. As a kid I wanted to play in the Champions League - and hopefully one day I will.

"People say the prime of your careers is aged 25, 26, 27. I'm 26 next month so hopefully I'm coming into my prime."

Young has constantly intimated he will speak with Lerner before announcing any news about his future - and nothing has changed.

He said: "I'm going away on holiday. But I said at the end of the season I was going to speak to the chairman.

"I'm going to talk to him this week and we'll see where we go from there."

Young was frustrated to be axed from the England starting line-up to face the Swiss after impressing in matches against Denmark and Wales.

He responded when brought on as a substitute for Frank Lampard by hammering the equaliser early in the second half and was chosen as the man of the match.

Young said: "I was disappointed not to start, but I wasn't the only one. All the players on the bench want to be in the starting 11.

"I came on at half-time and grabbed it with two hands. Whenever I get the opportunity, I try to do the same thing.

"We found out the team in the morning and I had to get it into my head that I wasn't going to start.

"At half-time the manager told me to go out and play as I've been playing and as I've been training, and that's what I felt I did when I came on.

"It was great to score a goal, and even nicer to get man of the match, but I'd have swapped them both for three points."

Young believes the current England side has the right blend of youth and experience despite their stutter against the Swiss.

He said: "I think we've got a good mix in the squad. You look at the senior players in the team and youngsters who are coming through. We've got a good balance from the back to the front.

"With the new formation we are playing (4-3-3), it helps everyone rotate.

"Everyone knows their jobs, we all work for each other and we showed that team spirit by coming from 2-0 down.

"It shows the character we've got."

Source: Liverpool Echo