John Carew tips Gabriel Agbonlahor to recover his form

Mar 24 2008 By Bill Howell

JOHN Carew has tipped Gabriel Agbonlahor to get over his England snub and bounce back to form.

Agbonlahor's 11-match drought played a part in Fabio Capello's decision to axe him from his final 23-man squad to face France on Wednesday, but Carew is confident the goals will start to flow.

"That happens for footballers. He's a great forward with a great future and now he's on the fringes of the England squad, so he should have all the confidence in the world," he said.

"He just has to continue and I'm 100 per cent sure the goal will arrive very soon."

Agbonlahor was denied late on by Craig Gordon's legs and Carew believes Villa paid the price against Sunderland for failing to capitalise on their early dominance.

"I was disappointed because it was a match we had to win - especially because it was at home and because Portsmouth had lost.

"I don't know why we played like we did. I thought there was a good spirit in the team.

"I felt good and felt the players did when I stepped out there and we were on them from the start.

"We created a chance almost from the beginning and it felt like it was going to be a good day.

"But when you have the ball most of the time and can't break them down, it can happen.

"Suddenly they can counter and they score and in football that's what you're scared of."