Aston Villa: Andy Gray tells Gabby Agbonlahor not to believe the hype
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ANDY Gray has warned Gabby Agbonlahor to ignore his own hype in his mission to prove himself among the Premier League’s best predators.
The former Villa striker turned television pundit believes Agbonlahor has all the attributes needed to prosper at the very highest level of the game.
But Gray insists the Brummie striker must want to focus fully on his football and strive for improvement daily on the training field.
Agbonlahor ended his scoring drought by deflecting in James Milner’s strike for his 10th goal of the season in the Carling Cup classic against Blackburn.
“In Gabby they’ve got a top player, the question is ‘How much more can he improve?’ said Gray.
“With young players you are always looking at them thinking ‘Are they progressing, are they getting better?’
“I think that it’s important, in order for Gabby to do that, for the lad himself not to believe all his own publicity. He’s got to concentrate on his football and getting better.
‘‘If he believes what people are saying about him there’s a fair chance he will stop improving. It’s all about attitude. If he is saying to himself ‘If I’m going to stay a top footballer I must keep getting better’ then he is capable of whatever he wants.
‘‘In my opinion he’s got the ability to improve and become a really top class forward.
“Does he have the scope to go on to the highest level and to be where Alan Shearer, Wayne Rooney and other people who have gone before operate?
“We’ll wait to see, but it is up to him. He has got all the basics that he needs.”
