Villa boss Martin O’Neill believes playing right-back could do for Craig Gardner’s game what it has done for Gabriel Agbonlahor.

Striker Agbonlahor was an ever-present in his first full campaign last season and ended up 10-goal top scorer, despite playing most of his games at right midfield.

This season the 21-year-old has gone from strength to strength and is again the club’s top scorer this season with seven goals.

Fellow Academy graduate Gardner is a central midfielder but he has filled in at right-back, most recently in last week’s 3-1 win against Reading, while he has also figured at right midfield numerous times in 2007-08.

O’Neill, who takes his side to Liverpool on Monday, is convinced playing full-back can only develop Gardner’s game.

“I think it helps him immensely,” he said. “From a defensive viewpoint it helps him because he now knows what it’s like. 

“And if he puts himself in exactly the opposite position of someone attacking him down that position then it gives him thought.

“There’s no doubt Gabby Agbonlahor has been absolutely brilliant. 

“He’s essentially a centre-forward, but he learned much of his trade playing wide-right for us on the opening part of last year, and went back there against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and played on the right against Ashley Cole.

“He tracked back for us like a defensive player and got forward – and this boy is a centre-forward. He’s been absolutely outstanding. But he knew what to do because he accustomed himself last year to playing that position.

“I think that gives him a massive advantage, knowing those things, knowing he can adjust. 

“And he’s been amazing.”

O’Neill has warned his fringe players they will have to work doubly hard to get in the side.

He currently has five ever-presents – Martin Laursen, Wilfred Bouma, Gareth Barry, Ashley Young and Agbonlahor – while Scott Carson and Olof Mellberg have only missed one game each.

Moustapha Salifou finally made his debut at the end of the Reading game, while Zat Knight, Shaun Maloney and Luke Moore are waiting in the wings, Gary Cahill is awaiting a decision on his future and Patrik Berger is nearing full fitness.

O’Neill said: “It was good just to get Moustapha on the field and ready for what I want him to do. 

“He stepped in onto the bench when Olof went down having impressed in the reserve games he’s played. 

“It was just nice to give him a chance, but the players keeping him out have done fine and that’s been the issue with some of the players, including Luke Moore.”