Debate: Manchester United winger Antonio Valencia is yards ahead of diving whingers Nani and Ashley Young

SOFT TOUCH: Ivanovic sent Young flying

Comment by Alex Bysouth

Antonio Valencia’s professional attitude and admirable work-rate when donning a Manchester United shirt stands the Ecuadorian leaps and bounds ahead of the unconvincing luxury of Ashley Young and Luis Nani.

Sir Alex Ferguson has welcomed a number of great wide midfielders to Old Trafford during his tenure at the club, with fans relishing the creativity of Ryan Giggs, Andrei Kanchelskis and Cristiano Ronaldo.

But in the current Premier League climate the erratic performances of Young and Nani are nowhere near as effective as the all round game Valencia can offer.

Valencia is an out and out winger, getting chalk on his boots and isolating full-backs, driving past them with his pace, strength and skill.

Once hitting the by-line the former Wigan man has an ability to pick out the sort of pin-point crosses the Stretford End has not witnessed since the great David Beckham.

But the pacey right winger compliments his attacking threat with an ability to track back and defend, providing vital cover for marauding young rightback Rafael.

In contrast to Valencia being labelled a grafter for his steely performances, Young has been made a martyr for diving after hitting the deck far too easily on far too many occasions.

Young – almost let go by Watford as a youngster – on his day can be unplayable, for spells last season he was United’s key man, performances that saw him make his way into my fantasy team.

But the former Villa winger is unable to sustain any periods of good form or fitness and in last week’s Super Sunday clash with Chelsea showed his frustration, appearing to moan at players and officials.

Although he was clipped by Chelsea's last-man, earning Branislav Ivanovic a red card, Young looked to go down too easily and could have remained on target for a goal if he chose too.

And after his manager was forced to warn him against hitting the turf softly last year, or else face being branded a 'diver', Young's nimble feet should be put to better use than looking for contact with opposition

Young, like Nani, is a luxury player, their talent is undeniable but their attitude and consistency is questionable.

Nani has failed to live up to his billing as ‘the next Ronaldo’ with his volatile displays more suited to playground football and the only product of his trickery a place on Soccer AM’s Showboat.

The Capital One Cup defeat at Stamford Bridge epitomised Nani’s character as the Portuguese got himself on the score sheet but also showed his immaturity when easily giving the ball away.

Sir Alex was not impressed and said after the match he had expected United to hold onto the ball in the final few seconds to see out the game.

“Nani is experienced but he’s a player who wants to beat men and I often discourage him from that,” said Sir Alex.

“In that situation, if we’d kept the ball at the corner flag, the game’s over.”

If Nani and Young are to start earning the plaudits teammate Valencia is currently enjoying, they need to knock their petulant performances on the head and adopt the attitude of the Ecuadorian workhorse.

For more on this story and many others, follow Mancunian Matters on Twitter and Facebook.