'If you can tell the manager' - Ashley Young makes admission over Everton role and possible transfer

Ashley Young was speaking following Everton's 2-2 Premier League draw with Tottenham Hotspur at Goodison Park

Ashley Young has confirmed he plans to continue playing next season and revealed the ball is in Everton’s court as to whether he will remain at the club.

Young, who will be 39 in July, became the club’s first signing of last summer’s window, joining on a free transfer following the conclusion of his contract at Aston Villa. The England international turned down other offers from sides in the Premier League, Sky Bet Championship and Europe.

However, he only signed a one-year deal with the Goodison Park club. But when asked about his future plans following the Blues’ 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday afternoon, Young revealed he plans to carry on playing next season.

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“I am just thinking about what games are coming up,” the former Manchester United man replied when asked about his Everton future.

“That is down to the club when they want to sit down and talk to me about it. For me, it is just playing games and getting to the next game."

Asked directly if he planned to carry on playing next season, Young replied: “Yeah, of course I do."

Jarrad Branthwaite scored a dramatic equaliser deep into injury time to secure Everton a point against Ange Postecoglou’s side. A double from Richarlison, in between a Jack Harrison strike, had put Spurs ahead at the break.

But while Spurs were once again reflecting on another failure to see out a game, this was the eighth time Postecoglou’s side had succumbed in added time this season, Young took heart from the fight and spirit his side showed.

“I felt, especially in the first-half, that we had the better of the chances, so to come in losing at half-time was obviously disappointing,” he said.

“We always say that the team spirit that we have got, the togetherness we have got, we always go to the final whistle and we showed that again in today’s game.

“Everyone knows that when you come to Goodison Park, it is a tough place to come to. We want to make it tough and the fans are behind us like the 12th man as well.

“We want to make it tough for every team to come here. We have got to worry about what we do and not other teams, and that is to get wins on the board.”

Asked where his side’s spirit comes from, Young revealed: “I think that comes from the manager.

“I wasn’t here when he first came in, but that was one of the big things, talking to the players when I first came in, getting that togetherness together.

“Like I say, everyone is pulling in the right direction and everyone is on board with the manager’s ideas and his vision for the club. All we can do is win games."

Young, who has spent a large chunk of this season at full-back, was once again deployed in a right-wing position on Saturday afternoon, just days after playing there against Fulham at Craven Cottage. And he admits it is his preferred position on the pitch.

“I prefer it, actually, if you can tell the manager that,” he replied when asked about playing further forward. “It is one of them things, I have played there pretty much all my career.

“I know the job and it is more exciting than playing as a defender. But as long as the manager picks me in the team, I will go out and give 100 percent and do the job.

"Obviously, you are a wide man, so getting balls in the box, getting on the scoresheet and assisting goals is what a winger needs to be doing. You also have work to do defensively as well. But it is an all-round performance."