Wigan Athletic FC-Aston Villa Preview

JAMES PIERCY,

(AP) -- LONDON (SE) - Ashley Young aims to get Aston Villa off to a flying start by shooting down Wigan at Villa Park on Saturday after pledging his future for at least another three years.

England winger Young, 24, has been linked with moves to Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City as well as European giants Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Young insists he wants to see out the remainder of his Villa contract, which runs out in the summer of 2012.

He said: "I have got three years left and I am delighted to be playing at this club.

"If you just look at the manager and his ambition, the ambition of the chairman and the ambition of Villa's players, it proves everyone is pulling in the right way.

"Everyone is in this as one, and everyone wants to achieve the same things. Yes I can see myself seeing out the rest of my contract here. Of course I can.

"I am extremely happy at Villa, delighted at the way things have gone.

"The ambition is getting bigger and bigger. As a player you always want to play in the biggest competitions and, fingers crossed, I will be able to play in the Champions League.

"If we add to what we did last season, then hopefully we can break into that top four."

Villa could hand a debut to midfielder Fabian Delph after his eight million pounds move from Leeds. Defender Luke Young will not play following the death of his younger brother on holiday in Crete.

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez has blasted FIFA over their decision to stage international friendlies and World Cup qualifiers on the eve of the big Premier League kick-off.

Martinez's preparation for his top-flight bow have been hampered by stars including Honduran Henry Thomas and Trinidadian striker Jason Scotland jetting off to play for their countries.

Spaniard Martinez, who joined Wigan from Swansea in June following Steve Bruce's departure to Sunderland, rapped: "The best competition in the world begins on Saturday and the majority of my squad are away on international duty and that's not healthy.

"It shouldn't happen - there's far too much money involved to allow that to happen.

"It doesn't affect Spain, Italy and France because they start later, but this affects the Premier League status and I think there's a lack of understanding about arranging these fixtures at this time.

"It is a harder situation for Wigan, we have more players away and it doesn't help our preparations.

"Several of Villa's players have a two-hour flight back from their fixtures, but a couple of ours have a 12-hour journey so we will not see them until Friday.

"All I can do is keep my fingers crossed and hope they come back without any injuries and ready to go against Villa."

Martinez is confident his side can cope with the loss of key performers Antonio Valencia and Lee Cattermole.

He added: "I have got huge confidence in the quality of the squad. We have a good core of players and are getting stronger every day."

Updated August 13, 2009