Gabby Agbonlahor’s put on the spot
Thursday 26th August 2010, 10:31AM BST.
Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor is prepared to put himself on the spot in the Europa League against Rapid Vienna.
After missing a succession of spot-kicks last term, the claret and blues suffered more penalty heartache on Sunday when John Carew blazed over in the 6-0 thrashing by Newcastle when the game was still goalless.
Agbonlahor netted from 12 yards with a nonchalant chip in Monday’s behind-closed-doors game with Burton and, with another of last season’s regular taker James Milner having left the club, is ready to step up if required tonight.
He said: “It was a bit of a prank between me and Ashley Young. If we got a penalty, I said I would dink it, so I tried it and luckily it went in.
“Is it something I’d be prepared to do? Yes. I think I’d have liked to have had a go in the past but it was hard with people like James and Gareth Barry here.
“If I get a chance then I’ll step up and take one. I think John’s off them now after Sunday!
“On another day that could have flown into the top netting. It was one of those. Normally in training John just smashes them in.
“Maybe Ashley Young, myself or Stewart Downing will want to get the next one.”
Agbonlahor has improved his goals return year on year with last term’s effort of 16 his best to date.
The striker missed from the spot in the Carling Cup shoot-out victory at Sunderland last season but admits becoming the penalty taker could help him go even higher.
He said: “It can be a good way of adding to your goal tally. If you look at Darren Bent last season he got a lot from the spot.
“Hopefully I can keep doing the things I was doing last season and get into double figures again.
“That is my goal.”
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