Ashley Young admits there is one position that he would not play for Everton even if Sean Dyche asked him

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Ashley Young joined Everton on an unassuming free transfer, merely expected to offer some cut-price backup in the full-back spots.

Few would have predicted that, over a year on from signing his initial one-year deal, the veteran would be a stalwart of Sean Dyche’s first team.

Through no fault of his own, he was forced to make 31 appearances last season in the Premier League, and this campaign has started six of their eight in the league too.

However, when you are as versatile as he is, there’s always a gap for him to fill.

Ashley Young jokes about his versatility

In a quick two-minute chat with Everton’s official X account, Ashley Young was quizzed on his time with the club thus far.

And, the interviewer could not talk about that period without touching on the unbridled versatility he has displayed, featuring at both left and right-back regularly, as well as on the wing.

Even one match back in January, on a cold floodlit night at Craven Cottage, he deputised in central midfield as well.

However, Young jokingly confirmed that there is one position he would never play, even if asked to by the Everton manager.

He stated: ‘Yeah I am [comfortable playing anywhere]. Throughout my career, the only position I’ve not played is actually in goal and I’m not looking to go there anytime soon.

‘It’s one of them things… as you get older you start to know the game and read the game more and more. I’ve found that, especially going to full-back as I have been in recent years, that you start learning the game and being able to know positions on the pitch, where to be, where not to be.’

Ashley Young has been a victim of poor recruitment at Everton

Whilst people have enjoyed lambasting the 39-year-old during his time in royal blue, at the end of the day, it is not his fault that there have been such long spells where he was their sole option at left or right back.

If anything, this should mark a searing indictment of Kevin Thelwell, who despite working wonders to acquire stars in some positions, has continued the frustrating trend of neglecting others.

Vitaliy Mykolenko remains their only senior left-back, so should he ever be unavailable, Young is their only other option.

Then, at right-back, the Toffees are still lacking a long-term successor to Seamus Coleman, with Nathan Patterson having suffered from unrelenting injuries ever since he moved to Goodison Park.

Again, Young is the first port of call for cover on this flank too.

He is not the most reliable operator, but this former Aston Villa and Manchester United man has performed admirably in tough circumstances, and even hit a rich vein of form recently as well.

He deserves this, given he is no more than a victim of his own versatility and the club’s ongoing struggles with injuries.