Ashley Young rising from the diver image

Crystal Palace 1 Man United 2: Ashley Young’s popular – or more correctly unpopular – image is that of a player who dives to ground rather than rising to a challenge, but there is no denying the determination of a man who has transformed his own and Manchester United’s fortunes over the past year.

A year ago today Young was an unused substitute as United drew their final game of the season to miss out on European football for the first time in 19 years. He also missed out on the World Cup, having been jettisoned by Roy Hodgson during England’s qualifying campaign.

But having spent a year watching international and European football on television rather than from the field of play, he is full of optimism once again.