GABBY Agbonlahor has developed an eye for goal and become a focal point of Villa’s attack since Alex McLeish enlisted the help of an optician to boost his players’ vision.

Agbonlahor, who has scored five goals and claimed six Premier League assists this season, is believed to be the highest-profile claret and blue star to benefit from the eye tests.

But McLeish hopes many other Villa players will reap the rewards after recruiting an optician to check their general sight and work on improving their peripheral vision.

“It’s just part of their curriculum,” said McLeish. “There are machines you can work on for movements and all these sort of things, so we’ve explored all these avenues as well.

“It’s not only Gabby, it’s every squad member. It’s early days but maybe it can help psychologically and in terms of their peripheral vision.

“We’re looking for advantages. If it can get you another couple of per cent you do it, whatever it is.

“Do you improve a guy’s dribbling skills? It’s difficult for me to improve someone’s dribbling skills. It’s done in a kind of instinctive way and it’s a natural talent.

“But there are a lot of other things that we can help with and that’s fitness levels and the psychological side and these physical things too.”

McLeish revealed he first introduced optical tests to his training schedules during his time managing in Scotland after following the pioneering lead of mentor Sir Alex Ferguson.

“All we’re doing is something that Manchester United have been doing for about 15 years, maybe longer,” said McLeish.

“Sir Alex, even in our Aberdeen days, was talking about players having to improve their vision. I know that some of the younger players ended up needing contact lenses.