on 20 april 2008, young scored two goals and assisted two goals for aston villa against birmingham city at villa park and villa went on to win the match 5–1. he also scored the winner against danish club odense boldklub in villa's home leg of the uefa intertoto cup third round. on 10 october 2008, young won the premier league player of the month award. this was due to his performances in the 2008–09 premier league season. having also won the award in april 2008, young joins the list of players who have won the award more than once including cristiano ronaldo, wayne rooney and steven gerrard. on 7 december 2008, in the 3–2 win over everton, young scored two goals, one being an injury time winner after everton's joleon lescott had equalised seconds earlier putting his tally for the season up to five. manager martin o'neill later described the player as being 'world-class' in the post-match press conference. young signed a new four-year contract until 2012 on 4 november 2008. on 10 january 2009, young was again awarded the premier league player of the month award for december, along with o'neill, who won the manager of the month award. he became the first ever player to win three premier league player of the month awards in the same year. during a match against sunderland on 18 january 2009, young was sent off for a two-footed foul on sunderland's dean whitehead. on 26 april 2009, he won the pfa young player of the year award.