5 PFA Young Player of the Year winners who flopped

Ashley Young

During his time at Aston Villa, Young resembled a world-class star in the making

Still on the books with Manchester United, Ashley Young is now 30 years of age and far from his best days, but there was once a time when he was the toast of England as one of the country’s most auspicious footballers.

The Red Devils fans have come around to Young’s ability in recent times, as he’s shown his versatility, but it’s fair to say that he hasn’t quite lived up to his billing throughout his career to date.

Despite winning the Premier League and the FA Community Shield during his time at the club, he was tipped for much bigger things. Derided for his silly penchant for diving at Old Trafford, he also often struggled with the crushing expectancy that comes with playing for such a super-club.

During his time with Aston Villa, where he enjoyed his best days by far and won the PFA award, he was a terrific delight to behold and really resembled a world-class star in the making. Under Martin O’ Neill he dazzled fantastically but ever since taking the step up to a bigger club he has been unable to transfer that magic efficiently which has been a real shame.