Two-year deal for Agbonlahor

Aston Villa’s record-breaking teenager Gabriel Agbonlahor has set his sights on emulating Darius Vassell and Luke Moore by breaking into the first team after signing a new two-year contract.

Agbonlahor smashed Vassell’s youth team record for the most goals in a season by scoring 40 times during 2003-2004 including five during the run to the FA Youth Cup final.

Vassell quickly made the step up after netting 39 times at that level during the 1997-98 campaign and just over three years later won his first England cap.

And another Academy product in Moore is now enjoying a run of first team football and he scored his first senior goal during Saturday’s 2-0 win over Middlesbrough at Villa Park.

Agbonlahor’s achievements have not gone unnoticed by Villa manager David O’Leary who included him in the squad for the recent Premiership games with Portsmouth and Everton.

And the Erdington-born player, who has been with Villa since he was 14, is hungry for his share of the limelight.

He said: “Hopefully over the next two years I can force my way into the manager’s plans. I’ve been in the final 18 recently and just missed out twice with the Portsmouth and Everton games.

“It would be great if I can get on the bench – and then maybe get on. The gaffer must have been watching me recently and that really is a boost. I hope he continues to watch me.”

Agbonlahor added: “A lot of players have come through from the Academy so hopefully I’ll be the next one. I’d like to follow in the footsteps of Darius and Luke Moore.

“Look what Darius has done. I’d like to do the same but maybe a spell on loan at the end of this season or the start of next would be the next step.”

Meanwhile, O’Leary has welcomed the return to action after a seven month lay-off with knee ligament problems of central defender Martin Laursen.

The Danish international celebrated his first start since August with his first goal for the club against Middlesbrough.

O’Leary said: “At the end of last season Ronny Johnsen and Dion Dublin had got old and we let them go and we bought Martin Laursen in to replace them.

“To lose him after only three games of the season was a big blow and we’ve had Mark Delaney and Liam Ridgewell in there so to have Martin back is good and I think he will be a solid player for us.”

Moore, meanwhile, has reaffirmed his desire to remain with Villa who have offered him a new two-year contract.

“I have always said that I want to stay at Aston Villa and that’s all I’ll say. I want to stay. Simple as that,” said Moore, whose current deal runs out in the summer.