Gabby Agbonlahor happy to go on the defensive for Aston Villa
Dec 19 2009 by Mathew Kendrick, Birmingham Mail
GABBY Agbonlahor admits he is happy to go on the defensive to help Villa protect their position among the Premier League elite.
Agbonlahor has started the season in prolific form and is the top scorer for Martin O’Neill’s men with nine goals in all competitions.
But the Brummie striker insists he is prepared to do his fair share of defensive work by dropping deeper to help out at the back.
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Agbonlahor showed his willingness to assist the claret and blue back four during last weekend’s momentous victory at Old Trafford.
Not only did the England hopeful score the winning goal, he then played as a makeshift right-back late on to safeguard the 1-0 win.
“Because of Patrice Evra and the way he attacks it was more like right midfield/right-back, whatever you want to call it,” said Agbonlahor.
“The gaffer got me to do a job there. With the pace of Evra at that late stage of the game he wanted to try and defend and not attack and it worked in the end.
“If you look at our performance everyone was tracking back, Ashley Young, James Milner and Stewart Downing.”
Agbonlahor has also been impressed with the attacking contribution of two of his Villa and England forward colleagues who were the subject of early-season criticism.
Ashley Young made Agbonlahor’s goal against Manchester United last weekend, while Emile Heskey took his tally to three in five in the midweek victory at Sunderland.
“Everyone knows what Ash can do and I think he’s been quality all season in my view,” said Agbonlahor. “Obviously after last season people were going to start reading him.
“He’s changed flanks and he’s done rally well. He showed that he can find new ways. Even when he’s not beating people he’s putting quality balls into the box like he did at United.”
On Heskey’s recent revival, Agbonlahor added: “That’s the reason he’s starting for England.
“He’s one of England’s best players when he plays because that’s what he brings to the side – he works hard, holds the ball up and can score goals.
“It just shows the competition we’ve got here for a striker like John Carew not to be starting.”
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