Villa are assessing the fitness of striker Gabby Agbonlahor after he pulled out of the England Under-21 squad to face Norway and France with injury.

Agbonlahor was a late call-up to Stuart Pearce’s squad for the friendlies at the beginning of the week – a decison believed to have put a further strain on Villa boss Martin O’Neill’s relations with the Football Association, as the striker had been carrying an injury.

The forward, along with Manchester City’s Micah Richards, has now been cleared to return to the West Midlands after failing to recover.

An FA spokesman said: “Both players arrived with injuries and have had treatment with the medical staff, but they have not responded to treatment.

“They have now been sent back to their respective clubs as a precautionary measure.”

O’Neill’s was annoyed by Three Lions coach Fabio Capello’s decision to start Emile Heskey against Spain last month despite carrying an Achilles problem – an injury the Villa forward has failed to shake off since.

Under-21 coach Pearce has not called up a replacement for the Norway friendly.