MANAGER Alex McLeish is hoping to convince Gabby Agbonlahor about the benefits of yoga – using Ryan Giggs as the prime example.

Giggs has prolonged his career thanks to the physical, mental and spiritual discipline and is still playing in the Premier League at the age of 38.

The Manchester United and Wales star has reinvented his game after starting out as a speed demon who, like Agbonlahor, terrorised opponents with pace.

And McLeish would love the Brummie striker, aged 25, to follow in Giggs’ footsteps by opening his mind to new methods to stay in tip-top condition.

Because of the sprinting that is a hallmark of his game, Agbonlahor has picked up various stresses and strains in recent seasons and Villa hope to reduce his time on the sidelines.

“There are one or two players who do the yoga here,” said McLeish. “I don’t know if he will take that on board as well.

“It is something we will be talking about with the doctor and the fitness coach, whether he is going to embark on the yoga as well.

“Towards the end of my playing days it was starting to filter in. There were all sorts of different tools starting to come into the game. Now players have virtually everything.”