Villa hopeful over Agbonlahor

Aston Villa are hopeful striker Gabriel Agbonlahor will recover from a hamstring injury suffered on England duty in time for Monday’s Barclays Premier League game at Tottenham.

Agbonlahor has yet to join in training after being forced to withdraw from England’s friendlies with Spain and Sweden.

But Villa boss Alex McLeish believes Agbonlahor, who has scored five goals this season, could be back involved before the weekend.

He said: “Gabby has not joined the group yet but we are hopeful he will be back towards the end of the week.

“I think he has got a chance for Tottenham. He has got a slight strain which guys like Gabby, with their explosive pace, can pick up.

“Gabby went to England in good faith and unfortunately came back with this little nick on his hamstring. It was the England medical guys who flagged it up for us.”