Aston Villa winger Ashley Young has claimed that Liverpool’s James Milner has been ‘impressive throughout his career’, as he told BBC Sport.
On Wednesday night, Milner made his 800th senior appearance during Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Inter Milan in the Champions League.
Jurgen Klopp brought on the 36-year-old as a late substitute as the Reds took a commanding first-leg lead in their last-16 European tie at the San Siro.
What a place for Milner, who made his debut as a fresh-faced teenager for his boyhood club Leeds, to reach such a milestone than at one of football’s most iconic stadiums.
Young, who played with Milner during the peak of his goalscoring powers at Aston Villa, lauded the experienced pro and what he has done during his career.
“James Milner has been impressive throughout his career,” said Young. “I’ve always said age is nothing but a number. You can see that with the way he looks after himself.
“I played with him at Aston Villa and England and you can see he’s still got the hunger.
“When you get older and want to stay at the top level you understand when you need to rest and how to recover and what to eat and drink.
“Milly’s 800 career games is an amazing achievement.”
Milner’s contract on Merseyside expires in the summer and it will be interesting to see if he extends his stay at Anfield.
There’s no doubt that Jurgen Klopp wants him to stay on, but if Milner parts ways with the Reds, then there will be a number of clubs keen to sign him up.
Most of them would be his former sides, the likes of Aston Villa, Leeds and Newcastle United.
Either way, it has been some career from Milner, who has won it all on the domestic and European stage.
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