Gabby Agbonlahor is fit and available for selection ahead of his favourite game of the season this weekend, boss Steve Bruce has confirmed.
The 31-year-old loves the Second City derby and was the match-winner in the same fixture last term.
Agbonlahor’s late strike against Blues in April was the difference but he’s played just 310 minutes of competitive action in nine months since.
Bruce admitted that he’s got a difficult decision to make when he picks the squad this week.
Scott Hogan will keep his starting place after scoring five goals in his last five outings but Keinan Davis and Lewis Grabban are both also in contention.
Bruce said:
“Gabby’s only just got back to fitness but he’s available for selection.
“I’ve got some very difficult decisions to make.
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“But don’t forget I picked him for the very first game of the season (when he scored).
“He came out of the team because he had an injury and hasn’t been able to get back in and settled.
“The team have done very very well so it’s been difficult for him to get back involved.
“It’s not just Gabby, though. I’ve had to leave some other senior players out.
“But only a few weeks ago I was having to call up a kid (Rushian Hepburn-Murphy) on a Saturday morning before the Middlesbrough game.”
It’s well-known that Agbonlahor loves this occasion and last season it was his introduction from the bench that changed a previously-dull encounter.
He’s scored five goals against Villa’s bitter rivals over the years, three of them winners.
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Agbonlahor missed the 0-0 draw at St Andrew’s earlier in the season through injury but he still travelled with the squad and was a vocal presence in the dressing room before the game.
Getting in the matchday 18 this time around could be even more difficult with so much competition, though.
But Bruce insists he will consider him.
“Gabby has got nothing to prove to me,” he said.
“Unfortunately it’s been a stop-start season for him, the same as the last two or three seasons in truth.
“But he’s fit and he will do everything he can to get in the team which is the most important thing.
“He’s only just got back to fitness, though, so he’s got to stay there.
“He’s picked up some horrible injuries this year which have been frustrating for him.”
OUT OF CONTRACT
Agbonlahor’s contract expires at the end of the season and a decision will then be made on his future.
This is what Bruce said after he scored the winning goal against Blues last season.
He’s since gone onto make just seven appearances (two starts) in nine months, scoring one goal against Hull City on the opening day of the campaign.
“He’s now got to earn a contract. It will be the first time he’s had to do that in a lot of years.
“When you get to 30, winning a contract is like winning the lottery.
“The big challenge for him is his summer because he can’t just prepare for games against Birmingham.
“But certainly his record against them is incredible.”
WHAT HAS BEEN SAID SINCE?
Discussing Agbonlahor’s contract situation in the summer, Villa’s chief executive Keith Wyness told reporters the forward’s Villa Park future is ‘in his own hands’.
“Gabby is into his last year of a contract for the first time in a while.
“He did work hard when Steve Bruce came in to get himself fit. He’s been unfortunate with a couple of injuries since then. But he’s got to work for it. For anything to happen it’s down to him. ”
HOW THE SEASON STARTED
It took Agbonlahor eight months and 13 games to bag his first goal last season, he managed it in six minutes this time around by sweeping home in Villa’s opener against Hull City.
The striker had enjoyed his best pre-season in a number of years and looked fit with a burst of pace that he hadn’t displayed for many a season.
Bruce handed the 31-year-old starts in Villa’s first two Championship matches of the season before dropping him after the claret and blues’ abysmal showing at Cardiff City.
Since then he’s been in and out of the treatment room with niggling injuries and his last involvement was before Christmas when he came off the bench in the 2-2 home draw with Sheffield United.
Since then, Villa have flew up the table without him and are now just a point behind second-placed Derby County.
WHAT THE FANS HAVE SAID
Should Agbonlahor be offered a new deal? We put the question to Villa supporters last month...
Dean Woodhams: “Pay as you play deal I don’t have an issue with. He is hardly going to be inundated with offers so if he ever gets fit he may be OK off the bench.”
Barry Fitzachary: “Yes. Explanation: loyalty works both ways. He’s never been a world beater but always been a Villan. He has two years left tops (possibly) - let him see it out. Good lad for young lads to bounce off, he helps them integrate, more than just a player, sometimes folks don’t see it.”
Geoff Dillon: “We don’t owe Gabby anything, so unless he’s contributing to the team I say no. He’s done what he was paid to do.”
James Hill: “Deserves the chance to overcome his current injury and work with the team this season. If he can break into the match day squad and make an impact then keep him. If he doesn’t make a first team appearance this season then we (have) got to let him go. (It will) be a sad day though. He’s a club legend.”
Dean Stanbury: “Absolutely not. I’m not one of the haters, I was a big fan. Disappointed when he turned up out of shape in our relegation season, but happy to give him a second chance. However, he simply hasn’t done enough in the past 2-3 years to deserve a new deal.”
Phil Gautrey: “No, but only for football reasons, not too interested in his recent mistakes. He was a decent player at one time.”
Kris Dudley: “Not for me. (The) club needs to move forward with new players. He’s been a good servant but his best days are way behind him.
Is Gabby a Villa legend? This is what Gregg Evans wrote about him on his 10-year anniversary in 2016