Bolton manager Gary Megson believes Aston Villa's in-form winger Ashley Young is starting to justify his £10million price tag.The 23-year-old was signed by Martin O'Neill from Watford for £9.65million almost two years ago.

At the time many felt it was a huge sum to pay for a promising but unproven youngster.

However, Young has hit top form this season, playing for England against Germany in Berlin, and last weekend scoring twice in a thrilling 3-2 injury-time win over Everton to take his tally to six for the season.

Megson has to work out a way to stop the flying wideman when he takes his team to Villa Park on Saturday but he credited O'Neill with having the vision to sign Young when he did.

"Every transfer fee when you pay it is always more than you actually want to pay and it always looks expensive," said the Bolton boss.

"It is only after the event when the player starts to bear fruit you think that was a good deal.

"At the time it looked like a lot of money for Ashley but it looks a snip now doesn't it?"

Megson is well aware of the threat the speed of Young cutting in from the wing can cause but he stressed that was not their only attacking option.

"They are difficult to play against because of that pace [of Young]," he added.

"And if you drop deep to cope with that pace, when John Carew is fit he gives you problems with his size and ability in the area."

As well as preparing for the trip to Villa Park Megson has had other things on his mind this week as the opening of the transfer window approaches.

He had a meeting with chairman Phil Gartside and other senior club officials on Thursday to discuss his budget and potential targets.

A threadbare squad means Megson has to find as many quality reinforcements as possible but he will not be demanding a transfer 'war chest'.

"Football clubs and businesses don't work like that. Everyone is pulling in the same direction," he added.

"Financially we will have to look at it and see what is the right thing to do.

"We have to try to judge what reality is. The questions are what are we actually trying to achieve, where do we want to get to and have we got the resources to do it.

"But it is more difficult in January because people want to hang on to their players."

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