IT TOOK a change of management to give Gabriel Agbonlahor his big break with Aston Villa, and he hopes the same is about to happen with England. The career of this 21-year-old son of a Nigerian doctor took off when Martin O’Neill replaced David O’Leary at Villa Park, and Fabio Capello’s appointment could have the same effect at international level.

England’s new manager will run the rule over Agbonlahor for the second time when Villa play Liverpool at Anfield tomorrow, and he has only to maintain the form he has been in all season to gain promotion to the senior squad for the friendly against Switzerland at Wembley on February 6. Agbonlahor did nothing for his standing at the FA by failing to turn out for England when required at the finals of the European Under-21 Championship in Holland last summer. Explaining his absence, he said: “I had a couple of injuries, I wasn’t feeling too good and didn’t think I was capable of performing at the level required. I could have handled it better but I hope people understand that I’d never turn my back on England.”

An O’Neill protege, Agbonlahor is impressive testimony to the educative nurturing of the clever motivator England have twice chosen to ignore. The winger-cum-striker with pace to burn admits he would probably still be on the bench, impatiently awaiting his turn, or on loan but for O’Neill’s willingness to give youth its head.

Once he got his chance, he made the most of it. He missed only 77 minutes for Villa last season and is ever-present this time around. Last season, he scored nine goals in 38 Premier League appearances, this time he has seven already from 22 matches, and among Englishmen only Reading’s Dave Kitson has more.

Born to a Nigerian father and Scottish mother, he could have represented either country but always wanted to play for England. After nine caps for the under-21s he is ready, willing and, in all probability, able to step up to the squad Capello will name in two weeks’ time.

Taught the rudiments by his father, Samson, in the back garden of their Erdington home, Agbonlahor was given a trial at the age of 13, then offered a place at the club’s academy and before long was scoring 40 goals in a season for the Villa youth team.

Of his upbringing, Agbonlahor said: “My father is a doctor and scientist, the brains of the family, but he was a decent player back in Nigeria - or so he tells me.” With a twinkle in his eye he added: “Dad says he knows a lot about football and tries to tell me what I should be doing, but judging from his ideas, I’m not so sure how good he was.” On a more serious note he said: “He did teach me a lot when I was a kid - how to shoot, for example.”

At 19, Agbonlahor scored on his first-team debut, away to Everton, but made only two more starts in 2005-6. “I don’t think David O’Leary fancied me that much as a player,” he said. “I got in the side due to the lack of alternatives.

“It needed a change of manager to get me a real chance. Martin O’Neill arrived [in August 2006] and suddenly the opportunity was there for everybody. I was desperate to impress, I probably tried the hardest and that was why I got the nod. The gaffer has given me a lot of encouragement. He has shown belief in my ability, which is what I needed. He plays me every week and you can’t ask for more than that.”

What had been the biggest change at Villa under O’Neill? “He has given us confidence and belief both as individuals and as a team. It all stems from when he first took over and gave everyone an opportunity on our preseason tour. Everybody was fighting for position and a lot of good came out of that clean slate and competition for places. Personally, I performed in our first league game [a 1-1 draw away to Arsenal] and took my chance.”

As Villa’s leading scorer, Agbonlahor fully justified O’Neill’s faith last season and is doing so again. “A lot of people probably expected me to go through that second-season syndrome but I’ve focused on trying to do better and with help from the coaching staff it seems to have happened. I’ve definitely improved. It seems that every week I’m one game better.”

O’Neill is at pains to keep those flying feet firmly on the ground. “He reminds me that you’re never the complete player,” Agbonlahor explained. “There’s always more to learn, more to improve on. He has got me making different runs and working on my finishing. Working on everything, really.”

From as far back as he could remember, his inclination had been to take on defenders. “I like to run at them and use my pace, which is my main asset. When I get the ball I always look to go past the first man. The gaffer tells me that if there’s a telling pass on I have to consider that first, but I like to have a run and finish it off with a cross or shot.”

Both he and Villa were on the right track, he felt. “I was looking to push on this season and so far it’s going well. The way we’re playing at the moment, we’re top-six material, definitely, and looking to finish in one of the European positions.”