Bruce has hailed the attitude of the returning 30-year-old after his struggles on and off the field last season.
Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce has told reporters ahead of this afternoon’s clash with Blackburn Rovers that Gabriel Agbonlahor, contrary to public perception, has been a hugely positive influence on the rest of the squad since the manager’s arrival, as quoted by the club’s website.
Agbonlahor hit the headlines for the wrong reasons last season, struggling to make any real impact on the pitch and being disciplined by the club for both a poor attitude and lack of match fitness in the final months of the campaign.
After failing to convince previous boss Roberto di Matteo that he should be reintegrated into the squad in the opening months of the current campaign, the 30-year-old appears to have been handed a reprieve by new manager Bruce in recent weeks.
The striker looks visibly more fit and lean, and was rewarded for his hard work on the training ground with a substitute appearance – his first senior action since March – in the second city derby against Birmingham City on Sunday.
Agbonlahor has built a reputation as something of a homewrecker at Villa Park in the last 12 months or so, with it being alleged on several occasions that he is a divisive figure in the dressing room.
However, according to Bruce, nothing could be further from the truth. The new boss insists that Agbonlahor “galvanises” the squad rather than dividing them, and even suggested that it was his positive influence behind the scenes which earned him his place on the bench at St. Andrew’s.
Bruce, who has overseen a four-game unbeaten run to start his time in charge, told the Villa website: “He’s done nothing but galvanise the squad since I walked through the door. The very first day I said to him I’m not interested in what’s happened before, that’s gone.
“He’s done everything he possibly can. I thought he had such a big influence in the dressing room that I included him on the bench last week.
“Make no mistake he’s worked extremely hard. If I can get him right then he could be the little bonus as manager you’re looking for because he’s a quality player.”
It remains to be seen just how large a role Agbonlahor is given to play for Villa this season under Bruce, but all the signs this week appear to suggest that he could be fully reintegrated to the first-team set-up.
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