Aston Villa: Gabby bulks up for Birmingham City

Sep 9 2009 by Mathew Kendrick, Birmingham Mail

“People are after you if you’re not scoring. They’ll be counting down the games since you last scored. It’s nice to get them off my back – at least for a couple of games.”

Agbonlahor knows a thing or two about dumb-bells having embarked upon an intense summer weights programme to rival John Carew and Emile Heskey in the strength stakes.

His bench-pressing left his fellow frontmen bench-warming during the league wins over Liverpool and Fulham and he is favourite to lead the line in Sunday’s rough and tumble clash.

“During the holidays I was doing a fair bit of weight training to improve my physique,” added Agbonlahor.

“I just don’t want to get bullied up front and I don’t want to get easily pushed off the ball by these experienced defenders.

“I want to be able to hold my own physically against the likes of Rio Ferdinand and John Terry.

“John Carew and Emile Heskey can look after themselves on the pitch. I wanted to be like that too.

“It’s obviously important I don’t lose my speed in the process – it’s a balancing act, but I think I’ve got it spot on.

“The gaffer wants me to stop now because he doesn’t want me to lose that speed up front. I’m sure it’s still there.

“In the past few games, the manager has played me up on my own and my new physique has definitely helped.”