Young: United the biggest

Ashley Young put aside his boyhood love of Arsenal and his hero worship of Ian Wright in order to join Manchester United.

The winger is already excelling in his new surroundings, emphasising why Sir Alex Ferguson was prepared to splash out £18million to snare the 26-year-old from Aston Villa.

But, ahead of England's friendly with World Cup runners-up Holland, Young has claimed it is not so odd for a Gunners fan to find himself wearing the red of an altogether different set of trophy contenders, saying: "Ian Wright was my hero. But even then, if you asked most kids which team they would like to play for, quite a lot would say Manchester United."

He added: "People judge me differently because I am at the biggest club in the world.

"I could tell the difference as soon as I got there.

"I wanted to go a club where I could win titles and medals and play in the biggest competitions. I have a chance to do that now."

And Young knows he is not on his own.

England Under-21 star Phil Jones also joined United this summer, along with young goalkeeper David de Gea.

In addition Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley have returned from loan spells at Sunderland and Wigan respectively.

Both the latter men have joined Young in the England squad, following Cleverley's call-up on a day which saw the departures of Jack Wilshere, Frank Lampard and Michael Carrick with various ailments.