Young relishing Ginola meeting

The former Tottenham defender Luke Young, now with Charlton, admits that having David Ginola in your side was often like playing with 10 men.

The £4m summer signing from White Hart Lane played in the same side as the Frenchman during his spell in north London and could mark him for the first time in his career tonight at Villa Park.

The 34-year-old former Footballer of the Year has struggled to hold down a regular place under John Gregory at Aston Villa, but helped his side regain some respectability from Saturday's 3-2 defeat at Everton as a substitute.

He also helped Villa come back from two goals down, scoring once as a late arrival, in the 3-3 draw with Charlton in April.

Young knows from experience that brilliance and exasperation are dealt out in equal measure by the mercurial winger, who won 17 caps for France.

"When I was at Spurs he was outstanding at home and won us a lot of games. But away from home he was out of the game a lot, even offensively, which is like playing with 10 men at times because he doesn't like doing the defensive work.

"But that is part and parcel of the player he is," said the England Under-21 right-back.

"It will be nice to play against him. There is no doubt he is a class act, although he's not had the best of times up there.

"I think the reason he hasn't been in the side regularly is similar to when he was at Spurs. Some managers see him as a luxury player, tremendous going forward but who as a team member is seen as not having it defensively.

"There are different styles of management though. Whereas under George Graham he wanted every player to get stuck in and be defensively together, there are other managers who like their flair players."

He added, "I won't have any sleepless nights. But on his day he can win any game, so I hope I can stop him."

Charlton go into the contest at Villa Park in 14th place in the Premiership having ridden out a horrendous injury list which blighted the start of their campaign. Eight regulars were unavailable during the opening weeks and with most now back fit, Alan Curbishley's side might reflect on just two defeats from eight Premiership games as a modicum of success.

They have also been impressive away from home, losing just three of their previous 14 matches on the road.

But Young, 22, added, "We have been drawing too many games and we need to start picking up three points.

"On a personal level I wanted regular football when I came here and I'm enjoying it.

"Villa will be looking to put that defeat at Everton right at home. They have been playing well this season, so let's hope we can go there and get something."

Graham Stuart is available again after suspension for the Addicks, and Curbishley may recall record £4.75m signing Jason Euell, who scored the spectacular equaliser just moments after coming on in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Derby.