Martin O'Neill firmly believes Ashley Young is up there with the cream of Europe - never mind the Barclays Premier League.

The Aston Villa winger, 24, has come in for some recent criticism amid suggestions his form has dipped slightly and that he is not striking the same fear into defences as he was last season.

His strike rate - just one goal so far this term - and his number of assists are both down on previous seasons.

But manager O'Neill insists Young's role involves a lot more than just beating his man and getting a cross in, and believes his work rate - along with those of his fellow midfielders and forwards - is one of the main reasons for Villa being able to boast the meanest defence in the top flight.

O'Neill also goes one step further by saying that, having watched a host of Champions League action this week, Villa's number seven ranks among the best wide men Europe has to offer.

Ahead of Saturday's Barclays Premier League clash with Wolves, O'Neill said of Young: "Wingers are expected to pick the ball up, look up - even when you're being double covered - and beat a couple of players or get a good cross in, but his job is so much more here.

"He tracks back to help our full-back, then our midfield player gives him the ball, he looks up and he's got 90 yards to go and 15 players to beat. You think, 'This might be a bit daunting'."

O'Neill explained: "Yes, he's misplaced a couple of crosses and free-kicks. But for me he's been brilliant, really brilliant - for everything that he brings and for someone that is so slight.

"In two successive nights this week I watched loads of Champions League games and not only do I think, from what I've seen at the very top level, that he is a really brilliant player in the Premier League, but by the looks of things he's a brilliant player in Europe as well.

"There's not too many players doing what he's doing.

"There's absolutely no question that he could handle that stage, no question whatsoever."

There is no doubting Young's skill, speed and ability at set-pieces but the international stage has not yet seen the best he has to offer.

The Stevenage-born former Watford trainee has six England caps to his name - the last of which came against Holland in August.

He may be able to force himself into Fabio Capello's starting XI should he be able to reproduce for England what he so often does in a claret and blue shirt.

And O'Neill believes it will only be a matter of time.

"Someone was saying that at England he's a bit quieter than he would be here, I think all of that will come, I do honestly," added the Villa boss.

"Maybe he's just at this minute a bit more comfortable in these surroundings because he knows the players have a lot of time for him in terms of what he can do for us on the pitch.

"And maybe he's still to express that for England."