Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor backed to get better

Apr 20 2010

Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor has been told his best is yet to come as he prepares to turn his sights on Portsmouth in Sunday's Barclays Premier League encounter at Fratton Park.

Agbonlahor has recently hit the 50-goal mark in his Villa career but manager Martin O'Neill has challenged the England international to move his game on to the next level.

O'Neill said: "What he has got to do is continue this improvement.

"He is not the finished article and he can improve his finishing.

"I think you can always feel that Gabby will score his fair quota of goals.

"But I think even he believes that he can improve by 50% more in the future.

"Goals can speak volumes for players. He can do other things for us but over-all his game has improved out of all recognition."

Agbonlahor has scored 15 goals so far this season and a flurry in the final five games of the season could be crucial as Villa bid to qualify for Europe next term.

Villa are outsiders for a fourth place finish as they currently trail Manchester City by five points and a challenge for a Europa League spot is more likely.

O'Neill added: "People here at Villa have talked about fourth spot for a long time.

"Manchester City have spent in the region of £200million and for £200million there is a fair chance you are going to get some really decent players and that is exactly what they have done.