Ashley Young, Everton badge
Ashley Young, Everton defender. Credit: Imago
Zak Anderton
Fri 6 December 2024 10:10, UK
Nedum Onuoha believes Ashley Young is one of the “most important” players within the Everton squad after his goal against Wolves on Wednesday.
The right-back became the oldest player in Premier League history to bag a free-kick as he curved the ball around Wolves’ wall and coolly slotted the ball in the bottom corner.
The Toffees managed to get a decent win under their belt on 4 December against Gary O’Neil’s men and currently sit 14th in the Premier League table, five points adrift of the drop zone.
Writing for the BBC Sport website (5 December), BBC pundit Onuoha shared his thoughts on the performance of Young, who he labelled an “inspiration”.
“The most important thing is that he really looks after himself and he still has the drive to win, which is exactly what Sean Dyche needs in this Everton side,” he wrote.
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“Dyche has the option of players in that position who are younger but he knows what he is going to get from Young and that he will deliver.
“It is a super physical game in the Premier League, but he is still a solid defender while also being good in attack. So that, paired with his experience, makes for one of Everton’s most important players.
“I think he will be an inspiration to a lot of people. He is proving that you can still play in your late thirties if you have the right attitude, look after yourself and have the fortune of not getting injured.
“I felt proud watching him against Wolves when he was sliding on his knees in celebration. It must be a really, really nice feeling for him too.”
Ashley Young has made himself a key cog in the Everton starting XI
Since arriving at Goodison Park in 2023, it’s unlikely that the veteran defender expected to be getting as much game time as he has done this season.
However, thanks to the injuries to both Seamus Coleman and Nathan Patterson that have plagued their campaigns this term, the 39-year-old has been relied upon rather regularly.
And, given his advancing years, many would expect Young not to be able to compete as strongly as some of the other players in the team but, in actual fact, he’s arguably been one of Everton’s best this season.
Ashley Young everton
Everton defender Ashley Young [Credit: Imago]
His form in the league has been solid and as he showed against Wolves on Wednesday, there’s still an awful lot left for the Englishman to give the Merseyside outfit and it also outlined why he was given an extension to his Goodison Park stay at the end of last season.
While his time at Everton could potentially be coming to a close at the end of the 2024/25 campaign, his impact on the squad this season has been second to none, and fans likely won’t forget what he’s done for the club too quickly.
In other Everton news, Leon Osman has reacted to what happened to Dominic Calvert-Lewin in their Premier League clash against Kilmarnock.
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