Young eyes Carling as Europe route

LUKE YOUNG insists Aston Villa's main priority is to secure a Champions League spot but is eyeing the Carling Cup as another possible route into Europe ahead of the semi-final clash with Blackburn tonight.

And the defender would dearly love to at long last appear in a major final after being an unused substitute when Tottenham beat Leicester – managed by current Villa boss Martin O'Neill – in the 1999 final.

Villa head to Ewood Park for the first leg having overcome Sam Allardyce's side 3-1 in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday.

Young said: "Our main priority is trying to get into the Champions League. There is no point in not having a go at it and we have done well during the season's first half.

"That is our first aim but, if we don't do that, the Carling Cup can be another route into Europe.

"The competition has still got a lot of gloss. It's so difficult to win a competition in this country."

O'Neill is hoping striker Gabriel Agbonlahor and midfielder James Milner will have recovered from illness and injury respectively after missing the FA Cup clash.

The likes of Young, central defender Richard Dunne and skipper and midfielder Stilian Petrov are expected to return after being rested at the weekend.