David Moyes is the right man to make Ashley Young a star for Man United

Ashley Young

Theoretically, Young should be the player that best suits Moyes. Although he doesn’t have the deadlock-breaking talent that Nani has, he is infinitely more consistent and defensively responsible. His versatility, able to play on both wings with equal impact, puts him ahead of Valencia who is pretty much a right winger only.

A key to seeing how David Moyes can get the best from Ashley Young is to look at how he used Steven Pienaar at Everton. The South African had a difficult spell at Spurs and had originally come to Everton with injury problems. However, Moyes trusted the talent that Pienaar had, believed in him and played him every week.

The best way for Young to build up fitness is to start games and get 90 minutes every week. Despite looking fragile, when he has played week in week out in his career, he’s been at his best. He is a rhythm and confidence player, so if Moyes trusts him there is every reason to believe he can find his form.

Young has the pace, directness and crossing ability which is a combination pretty much of his own in the United squad. Moyes will admire his work rate but more importantly, his ability to pick the right crossing option and then to execute it properly. He needs games and confidence and if United give him that they will have the winger they thought they had after his excellent first season.

David Moyes is an ideal manager to get him back to that level as he has thrived under disciplinarians who don’t rotate him out of the team in the shape of Boothroyd and O’Neill and Moyes has a similar approach. He can yet become a star at Old Trafford.