His transfer fee may have raised a few eyebrows but the winger has more than justified the £9.75m price tag with some blinding displays
With barely four months’ Premier League experience, Villa’s £9.75m purchase of the Watford youngster in January 2007 looked like a massive gamble.
Granted he had set the Championship alight the previous season, operating either as a winger or as a support striker to Marlon King, but Young was now in un-chartered waters.
His first season was tepid but 2007-08 saw him come of age, with his lightning pace and pin-point delivery from the wings catching the eye and providing chances galore for big John Carew.
Young also showed a keen eye for goal, and an England debut was forthcoming against Austria in November 2007.