Richard Dunne believes his Aston Villa team-mate Ashley Young is a certainty for Fabio Capello's 2010 World Cup squad.

Winger Young suffered a setback when he was left out by Capello for England's recent qualifiers with Ukraine in Dnipro and Belarus at Wembley.

But he responded by setting up both goals in Villa's 2-1 home win over high-flying Chelsea at Villa Park on Saturday to keep Martin O'Neill's side on course for a European spot.

And Dunne, who scored Villa's opener, is confident Young - and Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor - will be on the plane to South Africa in June.

The former Manchester City defender said: "I can see Ashley getting back in the England squad. By the time the World Cup comes around in June, he will be in the squad, himself and Gabby.

"It is a big squad, the England squad, and it is a tough one to get into but those two have definitely got the ability to get in it.

"As a defender, I know from previous seasons when trying to defend the kind of balls that Ashley puts into the box, that it is very difficult to deal with.

"The ball is constantly landing in the right areas and, if people are moving around in there, it is so difficult to defend against."

Dunne added: "Ashley should also take heart from Gabby being left out of the previous England squads and then coming back in for the last one.

"The two lads, they know themselves - and the manager (Martin O'Neill) tells them - how good they are.

"It is one of those situations you don't have any influence over. The (England) manager picks you or he doesn't.

"The two lads, as much they love playing for England, are enjoying their time at Villa but, whatever comes success-wise at Villa, hopefully it will put them in the England squad."

Dunne scored only seven goals in nine years for City but has now been on target in two successive matches.

He said: "I was never really a goalscorer at City. That is two already so far this season, which has already surpassed my previous best!

"It is great to have scored a couple of goals but overall it is about the team and the whole performance. We were brilliant against Chelsea and it is great to come from behind and win the game.

"It was really important that we bounced back and it keeps us pushing up the league, which is great."

Chelsea have now suffered successive away league defeats after being beaten 3-1 at Wigan before the international break.

They were undone at Villa Park by being incapable of dealing with two testing corners from Young - and Dunne should also have scored from another set-piece.

Blues defender Ricardo Carvalho said: "To concede two goals from corner kicks was difficult and we created the chances to score more goals.

"I think we deserved something from the game. It was completely different to when we played Wigan away. We had the chances to get the result this time.

"We conceded the goals from corner kicks but overall we played better than them.

"But we have to try and improve. It is always difficult to play away from home and, after the internationals, it is always difficult to play away in the next game."

Didier Drogba took advantage of a rare blunder by Villa 'keeper Brad Friedel to break the deadlock after 15 minutes with his seventh goal of the season.

But Dunne headed in the equaliser before the interval from Young's corner and a similar centre saw fellow defender James Collins head the winner early in the second period.

It was his first goal since a £5million move from West Ham during the summer.