The ‘practice makes perfect’ philosophy of England hopeful Ashley Young is having a motivating effect on the other Aston Villa players, according to one of the winger’s envious team-mates.

Young has been arguably Villa’s star of the season so far and midfield colleague Craig Gardner attributes the winger’s impact down to the extra hours he puts in on the training pitches.

The former Watford winger regularly remains behind at Bodymoor Heath when the compulsory sessions have finished to voluntarily hone his free-kick technique and other ball skills.

Young’s dedication to his art and successful results are now having a positive influence on other members of Martin O’Neill’s ambitious squad who are also staying on for extra practice.

Gardner revealed that himself, Young and winger James Milner – all England under-21 team-mates – often enlist the services of reserve goalkeeper Brad Guzan during their set-piece drills.

“Ashley Young’s a top-class player and he’s shown that time and time again since he joined us,” said Gardner.

“He’s got great natural ability but you can’t do things like he does with the ball without working on them a lot.

“If you consider yourself as a set-piece taker, you need to stay behind to practice and ‘Youngy’ has always done that since he’s been here.

“Me and James Milner take lots of free-kicks with him after training and you tend to get more and more of the lads joining in.

“We get Brad Guzan to stay behind with us and he doesn’t always like it, but he pulls off some unbelievable saves.

“You do it off your own back. As soon as training has finished, you can just walk in, but lads want to stay behind to practice. Youngy’s just a deadball specialist and I can’t think of anybody that can hit a dead ball like him so it’s good to practice with somebody like him.

“You can’t help but be envious of someone who can do what he can do with the ball so, if practising helps him and the rest of us, then it’s great.”

Meanwhile, Villa’s FA Cup third-round opponents, Gillingham, have seen their preparations for Sunday’s tie disrupted by a second suspension.

The League Two side were already missing captain Barry Fuller following his red card against Brentford and now defensive colleague Garry Richards has also been given a three-match ban by the Football Association following an incident in the same match.

Gills manager Mark Stimson had already voiced concerns that Villa’s Premier League class could see them romp to a seven- or eight-goal win at the Priestfield Stadium and he concedes Richards’ absence makes his team’s task even tougher.

“I’m shocked,” he said. “This is a massive blow. Garry is absolutely devastated and now we will have to face Aston Villa without him, as well as two very important league games.”

* The Premier League have dismissed any suggestion that television replays could have influenced referee Steve Bennett’s decision to overturn a penalty he awarded against Villa at Hull City.

Hull thought they had earned a late lifeline in Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat by Villa at the KC Stadium when Bennett pointed to the spot in stoppage-time for an apparent handball by Ashley Young. Bennett, however, changed his mind following protests and after consultation with his assistant, Andy Halliday.

The pair correctly ruled the ball had struck the crossbar and not Young’s raised arm, but there have since been claims that a third party, having seen a replay, could have influenced the decision via their earpieces.

This would contravene Premier League rules forbidding both third-party influence and the use of replays and Hull have called for an investigation.

The Premier League are adamant nothing untoward occurred and a spokesman said: “(Referees chief) Keith Hackett has spoken to Steve Bennett and the other match officials and the decision was made between the assistant referee and the referee.”

The Premier League have also pointed out that video screens have now been removed from technical areas and replays cannot be seen there. Yet with numerous monitors around other parts of the ground and the match also having been televised live, Hull claim questions still need to be answered.

Manager Phil Brown said: “You look at people’s body languages and you look at the linesman, who was less than a yard away from Steve Bennett and he wasn’t talking to him but he was listening to something. There is a monitor in the tunnel which Sky control and five, six yards away is the fourth official.”

He added: “As far as I am concerned, something did go on in the 92nd minute that has affected the result.”

Brown has no problem with the game experimenting with video technology but does not want it used surreptitiously before it is formally introduced.

He added: “Until it is cleared, you cannot use video. Until it is cleared, and I think there is a grey area where this is concerned, the fourth official cannot change the mind of the referee so who was the assistant referee listening to?

Brown’s sentiments echo those of his chairman Paul Duffen. “All we are saying is that the events bring into question who exactly did influence the referee,” Duffen said.

“I would like confirmation of who was talking in the earpiece. There is a concern that somebody was using video evidence. “