Agbonlahor ready to be fast-tracked by England

As Premier League defences are finding out, though, he is making up for lost time at a rapid rate. England Under 21 boss Stuart Pearce said last week that Agbonlahor was "on fire" and predicted a call-up to the senior squad in the new year.

Steve McClaren cannot miss Agbonlahor's name in the leading scorers' list — and not just because it is so unusual. He is the only England-qualified forward in it.

Four goals this season — which includes strikes against Chelsea and Manchester United — are testament to the 21-year-old's progress. According to Villa boss Martin O'Neill, he is bigger, stronger and better than he was last season.

Agbonlahor has made rapid strides since he concentrated on football after moving on from his other passion — sprinting.

"I think I was about 10 years old when I started sprinting," Agbonlahor said. "I used to go to the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham with my brothers, Charisma and Michael.

"We'd mess about, doing different things. I received some coaching. I was quick but my brother, who is a year older, was faster than me. But it's not just about speed, is it? It's about the technique as well.

"I competed for my school and I won most of my races, but there was a lad called Julian Thomas who I used to play football with on Sunday mornings. He was really fast. He's now sprinting professionally, I think."

Villa's striker is right. Thomas is enrolled on the World Class Development programme, aimed at the 2012 Olympics. According to manager Martin O'Neill, Agbonlahor is not far off attaining that standard in his own chosen field.

O'Neill said: "Patrik Berger told me in the dressing room after the West Ham game that Gabby has come on leaps and bounds. He wants to learn and he wants to play and he wants to do really well. He's got driving ambition to succeed.

"He might have been lightweight before, but now his strength is there for all of us to see. He knows his pace will take him past players but he's now got an ability to hold the ball which has surprised people.

"He's getting his body in between players like all great centre forwards do. Not once do you ever get the impression that he thinks he's done enough."

Agbonlahor always showed promise, and smashed Darius Vassell's youth team scoring record out of sight three years ago, but still feels he owes his first team introduction to fortunate circumstances.

David O'Leary gave him his chance at Everton in March 2005.

Agbonlahor scored and has been a permanent fixture ever since, but he said: "I don't think I played that day on merit.

"I'm not going to say bad things about David O'Leary because he gave me my debut, but I think he only played me because no one else was fit.

"It meant a lot to score on my debut but it didn't faze me. I don't get nervous before games.

"Every game I play in, I just think about it like I'm a Sunday League player when I was younger, with not many people watching. It doesn't matter to me if the fans are there. I don't really notice them.

"It's definitely helped me, thinking like that. People get nervous — you can see it happening to them. But if you are nervous and worried, you make mistakes. It doesn't matter to me who is watching or how many people there are, I'm still the same as I was.

"But I'm lucky to be given the chance. My brother was a better player than me. He was the one with all the skill but he wasn't scouted. So I want to take my opportunity. I feel like I'm learning all the time and I'm picking things up from my team-mates, and people I've played against. The way I look at it, if I keep learning, I will improve.

"At the moment, I'm working on beating a player without knocking it past them. I see a lot of Spanish football and if I see something, I'll try it out."

Whether England try him out remains to be seen, but Agbonlahor said: "I can't spend my time waiting by the phone for a call. If I get my chance, then I get my chance. If I carry on doing what I can for Villa — and that's really what I want to do — then it will come.

"I could have played for Nigeria or Scotland through my parents but I was born in England and that's who I want to play for. If I get there, though, I won't be nervous. I've seen that happen with other players, but I won't be."