Aston Villa are in talks with the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) as they consider their next move over the conduct of striker Gabriel Agbonlahor.
The player once celebrated as a cult hero at Villa Park is gradually turning into a shadow of himself with all the latest off-field controversies surrounding him.
Having been on the club’s books since he was a schoolboy, Agbonlahor is Villa’s Premier League all-time top scorer with 73 strikes in nearly 10 seasons.
Playing regularly for the Midland club since 2005, the former Watford loanee has made over three centuries of appearances scoring in every season.
Born to Nigerian father and Scottish mother, Agbonlahor opted to represent the Three Lions and turned down the opportunity to play for the Super Eagles in 2006.
Despite rising up to the level of captaining the Villans, the club’s hierarchy didn’t think twice before suspending the 29-year-old twice within the space of one month for indiscipline.
First, Gabby was suspended after he was pictured appearing to hold a shisha pipe while in Dubai, but the club took no further action.
And most recently, he was caught with laughing gas canisters partying in London on the same night Villa were relegated.
The striker who has only scored once in 18 games this season, was given a personal training regime last week after caretaker manager Eric Black insisted he was not fit enough to play
Agbonlahor has been ordered to stay away from Villa’s training ground while an investigation is conducted and the club have contacted the PFA in a bid to resolve the latest issue.
The PFA will attempt to mediate, but recognise that Agbonlahor’s actions could warrant punishment, even though he was not in last weekend’s match-day squad.
Former Villa skipper, Stiliyan Petrov, admitted his former colleague is fond of drinking and smoking.
He said: “I certainly think that is not the first time Gabby smoked shisha, that he has been out and had a couple of drinks, partying. Everybody does it.”
With all the rumpus around the striker, coupled with Villa’s relegation, the Middle East or China could most likely be his next destination.
