Steve Bruce: No better striker in the Championship than Aston Villa's Gabriel Agbonlahor

The 30-year-old forward has been brought back in from the cold by the new manager and made his second substitute appearance in a week during Saturday's 2-1 win over Blackburn.

Agbonlahor, deemed surplus to requirements by former Villa boss Roberto Di Matteo, has been placed on a six-week training programme in a bid to get up to speed and Bruce has been impressed with the player's commitment so far.

He told the club's official website: "Gabby made an instant impact when he came on against Blackburn. I want that for 90 minutes now rather than 20 to 25 minutes.

"He's ahead of schedule. I didn't think he'd respond the way he has done. Fair play to him.

"He's been battered here for a while, for whatever reason. Maybe he's deserved it at times. But make no mistake he wants to be a player again here.

"In the moments he's played, he's showed exactly what he wants to do. The rest is up to him. There's no better centre-forward in this league if he's fit."

Agbonlahor's return to Villa Park was greeted by loud cheers from the crowd, though the striker has experienced a strained relationship with supporters over the past 12 months.

The club's longest-serving player was twice the subject of internal investigations during the closing weeks of last season for off-field antics. He then resigned the club captaincy in disgrace after being photographed out partying on the night Villa's relegation from the Premier League was confirmed.

Agbonlahor, who has 18 months remaining on his contract, turned down a loan move to Reading in the summer.