Young: rested Villa stars ready for top-four place assault
The England winger admitted the five-day break came at a perfect time for Martin O’Neill’s squad ahead of the final 10 games of the campaign.
Villa had looked to be feeling the strain of playing competitively since mid-July because of the Intertoto Cup after a six-game sequence without a win. But Young is confident Villa can sustain their challenge for a top-four finish.
Young said: “We’ve had a good break and it was needed. Since we have come back everyone has been firing in training and looking forward to the last 10 games of the season.”
Young insisted the Villa players would not lose their nerve as they looked to stay ahead of Arsenal in the race for a Champions League place.
He said: “There are no nerves at all and we are not looking behind us. We are looking ahead.
“People ask about Arsenal but we are not concentrating on Arsenal. Our main focus is first of all Sunday and then the next 10 games.
“We know Tottenham are a good side who can play open football and cause a lot of damage and we’ve got to be wary of that but our own form is also good.”
Villa have managed only five wins in 14 league games at home — compared to 10 victories on their travels.
Young said: “If you asked everyone around the club, they can’t put their finger why our home form is like it is.”
Martin O’Neill is weighing up whether to recall left-back Wilfred Bouma who has been out of action for eight months since dislocating an ankle in the Intertoto Cup match with Odense BK in late July.
The Dutch international came through a reserve game in midweek with no ill effects and O’Neill is mulling over whether to give him another second string outing or whether to bring him back into the senior set-up for the Spurs clash.
Striker Emile Heskey is expected to be fit after his recent achilles problem but midfielder Steve Sidwell is still ruled out with an ankle injury.
Meanwhile Spurs boss Harry Redknapp insists he has no fears about returning to Villa Park this weekend after having a coin thrown at him by a “moron” during his last visit.
Redknapp was manager of Portsmouth earlier in the season when the supporter narrowly missed him but struck Phil Sharp, leaving the assistant referee with a cut forehead.
John Billington was given a five-year football banning order after an inquiry into the incident.
Redknapp was reported to have hired protection from an ex-SAS soldier when he returned to Portsmouth as Southampton manager, putting his return to Villa Park in context.
Redknapp has been encouraged by the progress since his arrival if Spurs are to compete for a top-four place next season.
He said: “It hasn’t been a rollercoaster for us, we’ve been on a good run and picked up 30 points since I arrived here. That is a good consistent run.”
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