Gareth Barry will make his own mind up says Aston Villa star

May 29 2009 By Mat Kendrick

And the double player-of-the-year award winner hopes the last-day victory and positive summer transfer activity will spur Villa on next season.

“It was important to finish well,” he added. “We have not done very well at home this year. It will give us a positive lift coming back for next season.

“We want to start with a win again.

“We will take our break and hopefully we’ll have a few good players coming in as well as keeping the good ones we’ve already got.”

Meanwhile, Gabby Agbonlahor has revealed he has been given a less strenuous summer fitness programme by Villa coaches than some of his team-mates to allow him a rest.

Agbonlahor made 45 league and cup starts for Villa as well as two appearances for England and has been selected to play for the Under-21s in next month’s European Championships.

O’Neill has expressed his concerns that Agbonlahor could suffer from burn-out if he if not receive some respite, but the Brummie striker refuses to complain about his workload.

Agbonlahor, who meets up with Stuart Pearce’s Young Lions next week, is grateful to Villa fitness guru Jim Henry for going easy on his with his personal close season exercise plan.

“I’ve not got a chance of a rest,” said Agbonlahor, who has been called up for the tournament in Sweden along with clubmates James Milner and Craig Gardner.

“I’ve got three or four days off and then I meet up with England.

“It is something you’ve got to get on with. You can’t moan about it.

“The fitness programme I’ve been given over the summer means I’ve got a bit less to do than most, hopefully.’’