Steve Bruce reveals Gabby Agbonlahor lost a one-and-a-half stone to save his Aston Villa career
Striker's future at Villa Park looked over after he was put on a weight loss programme
STEVE BRUCE has revealed Gabby Agbonlahor lost one-and-a-half STONE in a last-ditch bid to rescue his Aston Villa career.
And boss Bruce has tipped the forward to finally make a splash in the Championship after a diet of sweat and swimming.
The 30-year-old found himself on the sidelines last season when he earned the nickname Flabby Agbonlahor.
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And the ex-England star was suspended for partying hours after Villa crashed out of the Premier League.
But he started his first game of the season at Brighton last weekend — and showed off a new physique toned at a fitness bootcamp.
Bruce revealed: “The players have all been taken aback by how hard he has worked. To drop a stone-and-a-half in six weeks is good going by anybody’s standards.
“He has even started swimming.
“He’s not a pretty sight in the pool but he’s trying like a beast!
“I had to come out because it was that embarrassing. I had to throw him a float!
“It’s just part of the regime. But he is trying and that’s key. He is a big character in the dressing room and a class act in terms of footballing ability.
“The rest is up to him and so far, touch wood, he’s buying into exactly what we want."
Bruce expects to be able to call on Agbonlahor against Cardiff today — despite the striker picking up a calf problem.
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He added: “I still think he will be OK. But he was definitely going to get a few niggles because he has worked that hard.”
Bruce has huge respect for opposite number Neil Warnock — even if he is not everyone’s cup of tea.
He added: “Neil’s like Marmite, you either like him or loathe him.
“He’s a good football manager and they will come to Villa Park and be bang at it in football terms. It will be a really difficult game.”
Warnock has told his troops to battle to the bitter end in the Midlands today.
He said: “The supporters earn their money hard. It’s blood and guts — and as long as the lads try their hardest, then they are a forgiving group.
“That’s what I really stress to the players, to give their all.
“The lads have responded in the right way and they have given their all in every game. I think that’s lifted the crowd.”