Aston Villa's billionaire Chinese owner Dr. Tony Xia has dropped a strong hint that out-of-shape striker Gabriel Agbonlahor is on borrowed time at the Midlands club. The former goal machine, who has scored 73 Premier League goals, has not been seen at Villa since March.
The 30-year-old has been training on his own in an attempt to work his way back up to match fitness, but the Saturday derby against Wolverhampton Wanderers will be too soon for Agbonlahor to make an appearance.
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Aston Villa are struggling badly in their first season outside of the Premier League, languishing in 19th in the Championship. Roberto Di Matteo was quickly sacked after failing to justify his appointment with only one win in eleven games, and Steve Bruce now takes over for his first game in charge of Villa against Wolves.
The Mirrorreveals thatBruce has made it clear at every player in the squad has a clean slate and a chance to impress him, but Agbonlahor certainly does not have the full confidence of Xia.
Having played at Villa Park for his entire career except for two very early loan spells, the Englishman will not be keen to move away from the club that has supported him from his first days of professional football.
His only choice now is to make a forceful impression when he is drafted back into the first team, doing his best to pull Villa out of the increasingly worrying situation which the once glorious club has found itself enmeshed in after last season's relegation.