The forward will train partly with the under-21s, with the first team and individually to prove his fitness.
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Aston Villa’s record Premier League scorer Gabriel Agbonlahor has just one league goal this season.
He missed the clash with a virus and was out of action for the defeat to Chelsea as the club conducted an investigation into the player’s controversial trip to Dubai.
Now Agbonlahor has been publicly condemned for being unfit and out of shape as Villa announced via their official Twitter account that he will not be considered for selection for two weeks as he undergoes a fitness programme.
“After last week I sat down with Gabby on Monday and we agreed to put in place a fitness regime to get him up to speed”, Black said Thursday.
“I can only control the elements I can control”. “I agree, in April the questions that people will ask are the ones I’ve thought, but in any small way if I can move the individual parts of this club forward then I’ll do it to the best of my ability”.
I can’t do the running, that’ll be up to Gabby, it’s his responsibility.
Villa will be relegated before they kick-off at Old Trafford on Saturday, if Norwich City avoid defeat against Sunderland.
“What I won’t do is put kids in if I don’t think they are ready to play in the first team under the circumstances”.
While refusing to rule out a return for the 29-year-old before the end of the season, Black conceded he would need to see an improvement in the fitness levels of a player who, on wages of £50,000-a-week, is among the club’s top earners.
“The preparation won’t change”, said Black.
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Agbonlahor has made 371 appearances for Villa, with his last appearance as a 74th-minute substitute against Swansea last month. Our preparation is to beat Manchester United. “This won’t be a fall off the cliff “Oh my, Aston Villa have been relegated” moment, this has been happening for some time”.
