Steven Gerrard has compared Aston Villa star Ashley Young to Liverpool vice-captain James Milner when revealing he wants to extend the veteran's contract.
The former Manchester United captain returned to Villa Park last summer and has made 17 appearances so far this season, though game-time has been limited since the turn of the year.
Yet the 36-year-old impressed at left-back in Villa's 4-0 victory over Southampton last weekend when making his first start since mid-December.
And out of contract in the summer, Gerrard is hoping Young extends his stay with Villa, believing him to be as vital as Milner is to Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool.
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"There have already been discussions," Gerrard said. "I've made it clear to Ash that I want him to stay around.
"He's a player who can come in and do any job on a football pitch. There aren't many people who can do that, especially at his age as well.
"He's one of a few, like James Milner, who are a manager's dream.
"Certain situations crop up where you need someone to come in and do a certain type of job.
"It doesn't matter whether it's on the left, the right, in the middle, in attack, it doesn't matter what you ask them to do, they just carry it out.
"People need to give Ashley Young a lot of credit for being able to do that."
Gerrard previously played with both Young and Milner during his England international career, while the two midfielders were also team-mates at Villa Park during the 36-year-old's first stint with Aston Villa.
