Gabby Agbonlahor fit and firing for Rapid start
Wednesday 25th August 2010, 11:28AM BST.
Gabby Agbonlahor is primed to gun down Rapid Vienna tomorrow as Villa bid to erase the memory of their Newcastle nightmare.
England star Agbonlahor, along with Carlos Cuellar and James Collins, returns to action after recovering from back and hamstring problems and could start against the Austrians in the Europa League play-off second leg at Villa Park.
The 23-year-old forward revealed Villa’s dressing room are desperate to deliver the goods after Sunday’s 6-0 mauling by the Magpies, which was the first defeat of caretaker boss Kevin MacDonald’s reign. And he says Villa’s European ambitions lie beyond reaching the group stages, insisting they are in it to win it.
He said: “You’ll see a good reaction from the boys. I think there’s a few other players coming back as well which is good for the squad and it gives Kev a tough time to pick the team.
“I think everyone is behind Kev – we all have a lot of respect for him. If he was to get it he’d do a great job. The boys just want a good result.
“It was obviously frustrating last season not to get into the Champions League but we’ll treat this competition as it should be treated and try to win it.”
Agbonlahor barely featured in pre-season but his injury problems have not kept him out of training.
“I’m not used to this slow start to the season, normally I get a good pre-season,” he added.
“I’ve been struggling with a back injury since which has kept me out until now.
“It started with the hamstring and then went into the back, I think that’s common with a lot of fast players. Hopefully it’s all sorted now, I’ve got no issues to report.”
Agbonlahor was on target in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Burton on Monday and now he is champing at the bit to continue his scoring streak.
“I think any goal for a striker is good,” he added. “A goal in my first game would be nice, but as long as we get the right result and go through, that’s the main thing.
“You want to show everyone that you’re fit and not off the pace.”
UK Sport
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