Guardian: Martin O'Neill has dismissed any suggestion that Gabriel Agbonlahor's England call-up has coincided with a loss of form. The Aston Villa manager said yesterday that the 21-year-old has made a "big contribution" despite failing to score in 10 appearances this year. That sequence would appear to raise questions about the merits of Agbonlahor's inclusion in Fabio Capello's preliminary squad but O'Neill remains convinced the forward has the attributes to succeed at international level. "Gabby may not be scoring [but] he contributes in so many other ways to us," said Villa's manager before today's meeting with Sunderland. "It was only a fortnight since he was brilliant against Arsenal. Obviously he'd like a couple more goals. I'm quite sure he never felt that Wigan away [in December] would be his last goalscoring contribution. I would be surprised myself. But I'm not worried for him. Because I feel he does so much else, it's less of a concern for me. "This little spell of not scoring a goal will be an interesting phase in his development," O'Neill added, before using the involvement of the Villa youth system graduate in creating a goal for Ashley Young at Reading last month as evidence of other qualities. "If he was an out-and-out goalscorer and that was all he was doing, then that's a different issue. That's not me hiding. That's how I feel. He has the talent to play this game at the top level. There's no reason why he shouldn't go on. When he first set out, he relied on his pace to go past people. Now he has tried to improve his touch, his awareness."

Sun: MARTIN O'NEILL insists it is only a matter of time before Gabriel Agbonlahor starts hitting the back of the net again. Aston Villa striker Agbonlahor has seven goals so far but trails nine-goal hitman John Carew as the club's top scorer after failing to find the target in the last 10 games. But boss O'Neill is losing little sleep over the recent drought because of Agbonlahor's contribution in other areas. O'Neill said: "I'm not saying we would not have minded a couple of goals from Gabby along the way but I am less worried than he is because of his overall performances. "If he was just an out-and-out goal-scorer it might be different. "When Nottingham Forest won the league in 1978-79, Peter Withe didn't score for about four months but he was still the best centre-forward around. "Gabby was magnificent in our 2-2 draw at Arsenal ? absolutely brilliant ? so it's no surprise to me that he's in Fabio Capello's England squad again for next week's friendly with France. Mr Capello has seen a lot of us and Gabby at his best, so he's made up his own mind about him."

Times: Martin O'Neill believes that Gabriel Agbonlahor is the centre forward to lead Aston Villa into Champions League contention, but he has assured Fabio Capello, the England manager, that the versatility the striker has accrued during the team's development over the past two years will enable him to play anywhere across the line should an opportunity arise in England's friendly against France on Wednesday. Agbonlahor has not scored in 2008, but the Villa manager underlined that his improving all-round game means he is ready for a senior international debut in Paris. O'Neill could do with the 21-year-old scoring today as his team aim to revive their Uefa Cup qualification hopes by overcoming Sunderland at Villa Park, but he is gratified with the striker's input. "He contributes in so many other ways," O'Neill said. "It was only three weeks ago since he was magnificent against Arsenal. In the last 20 minutes he moved to wide right, chased back, took the ball forward, so his contribution to us is very big. Obviously he'd like to score a couple more goals, but I would be less concerned than he is."

Times: Villa are seeking a first win in four to resurrect their hopes of qualifying for Europe. Martin O'Neill will recall Craig Gardner to replace the suspended Olof Mellberg. Sunderland, without an away win this season, have Anthony Stokes, Daryl Murphy, Kieran Richardson and Michael Chopra pushing for recalls. Aston Villa (probable; 4-4-2): S Carson - C Gardner, Z Knight, M Laursen, W Bouma - M Harewood, N Reo-Coker, G Barry, A Young - G Agbonlahor, J Carew. Injuries and suspensions: C Davies (Achilles), O Mellberg (one match). Sunderland (possible; 4-4-2): C Gordon - P Bardsley, J Evans, N Nosworthy, D Collins - C Edwards, D Whitehead, A Reid, K Richardson - D Murphy, K Jones. Injuries and suspensions: D Etuhu (knee), R Wallace (knee). Bill Edgar says These clubs won a combined 11 league titles before the First World War, but have added only two since then (one each).

Daily Mail: As Manchester United soaked up the Nou Camp atmosphere on that famous night nine years ago, one player reached inside his jacket pocket, pulled out his mobile and rang the man responsible for introducing him to English football as a raw 16-year-old, putting him on the path to his Champions League winner's medal. The name Dwight Yorke scrolled to was Graham Taylor, the only boss brave enough to offer the naturally gifted striker a chance at Aston Villa. 'I remember standing on the pitch before the final and I just couldn't stop thinking that I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him,' said Yorke. 'So I rang him up and told him so. 'I wanted to thank him for everything he'd done. It's no secret he was the man responsible for me coming over, who invited me and obviously helped me make the grade. I'm very grateful to him for that.' Villa was his home for nearly a decade and he has happy memories and many friends from that period, not least his first landlady Sheila Dudley, who hopes to be at Villa Park for the 36-year-old's return with Sunderland today. His £12.6million departure to United was not well received at Villa Park and neither was Yorke's return there, but the reaction could be less hostile today for what could be his last visit.

Mirror: Among Yorke's friends, family and supporters in the Villa Park crowd will be Sheila Dudley, who put him up in digs when he first came over from the Caribbean. Villa boss Taylor plucked him from Trinidad's Under-16 side and put him on the road to success. Yorke said: "I remember standing on the pitch before the final and I just couldn't stop thinking that I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him. "That's how I felt at the time so I rang him up and told him so. I had to thank him. "I was very lucky that Villa came out and saw me play when I was a kid. I was representing my country's under-16 team. "I was a minor so I had to get permission from my family to come over here. That's going back about 20 years now and it was tough at first. "It was a whole change of culture for me, because when you live in the Caribbean you have a certain type of weather and food and people. "But I had a desire and determination to make it work, because it was what I wanted. It was an opportunity I didn't want to let go."

Sun: DWIGHT YORKE returns to Aston Villa with Sunderland determined to prove he is still the daddy. The veteran hitman, who will be cheered on by seven-month-old son Brandon Tiger, is back in the Midlands aiming to help the Mackems take a huge step towards safety. It has been 10 years since Yorke, 36, quit Villa for Manchester United but he will never forget his time in Claret and Blue. He said: "Villa are my team, the team I support and after Sunderland's results, I look out for theirs next. "I've got loads of friends and family in that neck of the woods, so I'll be a bit emotional. "My new son will make his appearance for the first time. "I have all that to deal with. But it's a great feeling to have ? to know this is where my career started and it might be the last time I grace this stadium as a player. "I'll probably get some stick but hopefully the fans will also remember the good times. "My old Villa boss Graham Taylor played an important role in my life. It's no secret that he was responsible for me coming over to this country. I'm grateful for that."

Sporting Life: Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has defended Fabio Capello's decision to give another England call-up to Gabriel Agbonlahor despite his current goal drought. Agbonlahor was denied the chance to make his senior England breakthrough against Switzerland at Wembley last month because of a hamstring injury. Now he has been named in the provisional squad to face France in Paris on Wednesday even though he is still searching for his first goal of 2008, and has gone 10 matches since he last found the net. But O'Neill claimed the Villa Academy product has a lot more to his game than just goal-scoring ahead of Saturday's home Premier League clash with Sunderland. O'Neill said: "I am pleased for Gabby to get another call-up by England. He was disappointed to have to pull out through injury last time but, if he gets on, I hope he does well. "Am I surprised he is in the squad given his lack of goals? No. His current form is very good and he is not just about scoring. "He contributes in so many ways for us and the England manager would have seen that. "Only a fortnight ago he was magnificent against Arsenal. His contribution to us is very big.

Sporting Life: Craig Gardner is ready to help Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill out of a right-back dilemma by being fit for Saturday's Barclays Premier League visit of Sunderland. The England Under-21 player has returned to training this week after missing the 2-0 defeat at Portsmouth with a back problem suffered against Middlesbrough in the previous game. Gardner is set to replace Olof Mellberg, who serves a one-game ban for his sending-off for two bookable offences at Fratton Park. O'Neill has no other fresh injury worries as Villa look to get back on course for Europe after three games without a win. Sunderland boss Roy Keane's injury worries are easing ahead of the clash. Dickson Etuhu is still missing with a knee problem, but Anthony Stokes has recovered from illness and may return. Daryl Murphy, Kieran Richardson and Michael Chopra, who all missed out on last week's 1-0 home defeat by Chelsea, could also return to the squad.

The World Game (Aus): Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has defended Fabio Capello's decision to give another England call-up to Gabriel Agbonlahor despite his current goal drought. Agbonlahor was denied the chance to make his senior England breakthrough against Switzerland at Wembley last month because of a hamstring injury. Now he has been named in the provisional squad to face France in Paris on Thursday (AEDT) even though he is still searching for his first goal of 2008, and has gone 10 matches since he last found the net. But O'Neill claimed the Villa Academy product has a lot more to his game than just goal-scoring ahead of Sunday's (AEDT) home Premier League clash with Sunderland. O'Neill said: "I am pleased for Gabby to get another call-up by England. He was disappointed to have to pull out through injury last time but, if he gets on, I hope he does well."

Coverage From Abroad

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