Villa boss Martin O’Neill’s relationship with the Football Association looked increasingly strained today after Gabby Agbonlahor was called up to England’s under-21s despite question marks over his fitness.

Agbonlahor was handed a late call to Stuart Pearce’s squad as cover for the injured Theo Walcott yesterday. However, it is understood, the Villa striker had been carrying a calf injury.

The 22-year-old, who was left out of Fabio Capello’s senior squad – despite starting England’s last two games – is believed to have undergone a scan before being given the green light to link up with the under-21s but the claret and blues did not discover the news until 10am yesterday.

O’Neill’s relations with England are already strained after Emile Heskey started against Spain last month despite carrying an Achilles problem – an injury the Villa striker has had to manage ever since.

And this latest breakdown in communications is likely to irk him, especially as both of the under-21s games are friendlies, first in Norway on Friday and then against France at the City Ground on Tuesday.

Agbonlahor has struggled for form of late, showing signs of fatigue, and was left on the bench  in a Premier League game for the first time this season in Sunday’s defeat to Liverpool.