Gabriel Agbonlahor started up-front for Aston Villa in their latest match.
Steve Bruce has told the Birmingham Mail that Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor is set for a run of games in his first-team.
Villa have lost both Jonathan Kodjia and Jordan Ayew to the African Cup of Nations – with the pair set to miss the next month’s worth of action.
And Bruce has confirmed that he will turn to Agbonlahor during the period that the African duo are away.
Agbonlahor was selected to start for Villa against Tottenham Hotspur in the FA yesterday, and Bruce confirmed that the 30-year-old is set for a series of starts after the match.
“Yes [Agbonlahor will play more in the coming weeks], especially with the two African boys we’ve got away at the moment,” Bruce said.
“We’re missing Kodjia and Ayew so what was in the back of my mind was ‘can we get him in some sort of physical condition for this period?’
“Today he did very very well. It’s good to see.”
Agbonlahor appeared to have no future at Villa before Bruce came in, but the former Hull City boss has given him plenty of chances.
Agbonlahor has made 10 appearances for the claret and blues so far this term, but he is yet to score.
Villa were beaten 2-0 by Tottenham yesterday, with Ben Davies and Heung-Min Son getting the goals for the Premier League side.
Villa are next in action on Saturday, when they take on Wolverhampton Wanderers.
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