Adam Dennehey WAFU manager
With the European Championships looming it appears that Ashley Young has emerged from a difficult end to his first season as a Manchester United player and is ready to play a leading-role for England this summer.
The former Aston Villa winger looked a threat in 72 minutes of action before being replaced by Arsenal’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and showed his versatility in a forward role linking up well with a rejuvenated Andy Carroll up top as England opted for a 4-4-2 lineup.
The ‘little man big man combination’ between Carroll and Young gelled instantly from kick-off and the way that Young took his goal after being picked out by the Liverpool forward showed that the pair have a good understanding which has the potential to only get better.
Fulham’s Brede Hangeland hasn’t been made to look a fool too often in five years of playing in the Premier League but the way that Young turned the Norwegian for dead before stroking the ball home showed real intelligence and skill.
Phil Jones faired well at right-back before being substituted late-on for Liverpool’s debutant Martin Kelly. Despite a few poor passes and lapses of concentration the swashbuckling defender did what he had to do and almost doubled England’s lead with a deflected shot that came back off the post.
Jones is far from the finished article as a defender and will only learn and become a better player by playing in big games, more so at Champions League and at International level where mistakes are ruthlessly pounced upon.
Roy Hodgson will not get carried away with England’s win in Oslo and will be wary of the threat a highly-talented and undervalued Belgium side containing everyone’s favourite ‘transfer-troll’ Eden Hazard will bring next weekend at Wembley.
By Adam Dennehey @ADennehey87
