Aston Villa winger hits back at 'diver' jibes

Aston VILLA winger Ashley Young says he is hurt at being portrayed as a "diver".

Young says he has had that accusation thrown at him "on numerous occasions".

The England player, who could play his last game for Villa against Liverpool on Sunday, has won more free-kicks - 88 - than any other Premier League player this season. Out of contract next month, he said: "I think people saying that 'I go down too easily' hurts more than being booted up in the air to be honest. I hear that on numerous occasions and then you look at the stats of me being the most fouled player.

"Is it me that's going down easily or is it that I am genuinely being fouled? I've not been booked for diving but I'm the most fouled player. Everyone's entitled to their opinion. It's always going to be said that people are diving in the Premier League but you just have to get on with it.

"I've got cuts, bumps and bruises up and down my shins, but I've come to get used to it."