Aston Villa: Gabby bulks up for Birmingham City

Sep 9 2009 by Mathew Kendrick, Birmingham Mail

GABRIEL Agbonlahor believes Sunday’s Second City derby will be well worth the wait – and the weight-lifting – after admitting his muscles and Villa’s morale are fully pumped up.

Since scoring the dramatic winner in the last Brum showdown at St Andrew’s almost two years ago, Agbonlahor has bulked up in an effort to excel in his new 4-5-1 targetman role.

Mat Kendrick will be online tomorrow at 12pm for a live Q&A with Villa fans ahead of the big game - www.birminghammail.net/live

And after opening his account for the season in Villa’s confidence-boosting victory over Fulham the weekend before last, Agbonlahor and his team-mates are in great shape.

“Confidence is absolutely essential in football and momentum too,” he said. “This is the best we’ve felt all season going into a match. Everyone is on a high and that can only be good ahead of the derby.

“It’s the same from a personal point of view. The earlier you score your first goal of the season, the better.

“For a striker, that goal against Fulham was a weight off my shoulders and I feel so confident now.