Ash to Ash

WE know there hasn't exactly been a flurry of transfer activity at Villa Park so far this summer.

But surely Martin Laursen's unfortunate retirement hasn't left setpiece specialist Ashley Young with nobody to aim for from his corners...?

At least with regular taker Gareth Barry leaving and James Milner fluffing a couple of spot kicks on England under-21 duty, Ash has put in a pretty impressive audition for the penalty vacancy...