At the start of the 2016/17 season, it appeared as though Gabby Agbonlahor’s time with Aston Villa was coming to an end.
Out-of-favour following relegation from the Premier League and seemingly unwanted by Roberto Di Matteo, the 30-year-old striker looked set to depart Villa Park this summer with his contract due to expire at the end of the campaign.
The attacker has made 384 appearances for the club in all competitions after making his debut in 2006, scoring 85 goals, but he scored just once in the top flight last term.
However, he was given a final chance to earn a new deal to stay at the Championship side by current boss Steve Bruce, and he may have just gone a huge step towards taking it after scoring the winning goal in his side’s 1-0 win at home to arch-rivals Birmingham City on Sunday, in what was just his 13th appearance of the campaign.
Here are three reasons Villa should hand Agbonlahor a new deal…
He still has something to offer
Agbonlahor showed against Birmingham City on Sunday that he still has plenty to offer the club, be it as a starter or from the substitutes’ bench.
With top scorer Jonathan Kodjia suspended following a red card against Fulham the previous weekend, the 30-year-old was given a rare start by Steve Bruce and showed his instinctive finishing ability as he fired into the roof of the net in the second half.
While he probably wouldn’t be a regular in the starting XI next term, his experience and ability to make an impact could be vital in the side’s promotion push, but he will need to get a good pre-season under his belt first.
He loves the club
The 30-year-old’s reaction to his first goal in 14 months against Villa’s arch-rivals showed just how much the club still means to him.
He could have easily given up under Roberto Di Matteo earlier in the campaign but when Steve Bruce was appointed the striker went out of his way to get himself fit in order to try and take the side back to the Premier League.
That passion and motivation to want to do well for the team that he is now in his 12th campaign with is why Villa should keep him for at least one more year.
He can star at this level
As we mentioned previously, Agbonlahor certainly has all of the attributes to make a real impact in the Championship – as long as he is at his physical best.
With pace to worry defenders and the instinctive finishing ability he has shown over the years – and against Birmingham on Sunday – the 30-year-old could certainly prove to be a successful foil for Jonathan Kodjia next term, and is a player that can go on a consistent goalscoring run once he nets two or three.
Do you agree, Villa fans? Let us know below.