For a fledgeling footballer making his way, there could not be many better mentors to have than Martin O’Neill and Stuart Pearce. O’Neill, with his Northern Irish charm, tactical nous and, when needed, comforting arm over the shoulder; Pearce, with his British bulldog spirit, if-looks-could-kill stare and clench-fisted urgency.

Gabriel Agbonlahor, the Aston Villa and England Under-21 striker, is a lucky lad. He appears to have the best of both worlds. O’Neill is his manager at Villa Park, his day-to-day guru, while Pearce is guiding him through the choppy waters of the international age-group scene. They are, perhaps, a combination of chalk and cheese but one that, in their pacy protégé, is bearing fruit.

Agbonlahor, 21, recognises the O’Neill-Pearce effect. “Martin changed a lot of things when he got here and I think we needed it,” he said. “Everyone could start afresh, he gave us all a chance. He’s very enthusiastic, good at encouraging the younger players and just likes his players to play football. He and Stuart are different. Is Stuart forthright? Yeah, he gets his point across. But he’s a good manager, really good.”

Having made swift progress, after only one full season in the top flight, Agbonlahor’s name has been mentioned in high places. On Friday, when Fabio Capello, the new England manager, announces his first squad – for the friendly against Switzerland at Wembley a week tomorrow – might there be a place for the former Great Barr Falcons under-9s goal ace?

It is a suggestion that amuses him as he sits in a quiet corner of Villa’s training complex at Bodymoor Heath. “Well, if the chance came along, I’d take it,” Agbonlahor said. “Who wouldn’t? But it’s not really on my mind. I just want to concentrate on playing for Villa. If you get the call, great. If not, it’s nothing to worry about. I’ll leave it up to the manager.”

Hanging on the wall near by is a photograph of Agbonlahor acclaiming the club badge on his jersey amid the throes of celebration. Off the pitch, he is softly spoken, almost shy, nothing like his childhood hero, Ian Wright, the former Arsenal and England striker. “Yeah, he’s a bit loud,” Agbonlahor said. “Maybe I am a bit quieter.”

Brought up in the Birmingham district of Erdington, Agbonlahor could have pursued a career in athletics. He was a talented sprinter at 100 metres and 200 metres. Yet for the football-obsessed youngster, his speed was better put to use away from the track – as many a Barclays Premier League defender is finding out.

With a Nigerian father, Samson, and Scottish mother, Mary, he might have played for any of three countries. “But it was always England for me,” he said. “I was born here, I’m a local boy, I always supported them as a kid, I had the shirt. When I made my debut for the under-21s [against Germany in October 2006], it was really exciting.”

It was not so stimulating when Pearce was unable to contact Agbonlahor to ask him to join his squad for the European Under-21 Championship finals in the Netherlands last June. Pearce was not pleased, O’Neill blamed a managerial “communications breakdown” and Agbonlahor had a stress-free summer.

“It was just a lack of communication,” he said. “Yeah, it was a bit embarrassing seeing it all over the news, but it was just one of those things that happen. I try to forget about it. After the long season I’d had, I felt drained. I went away on holiday. Yes, possibly I’ve benefited from the break. If I’d gone to the finals I think I might have struggled this season.”

Struggled he has not. He is back in Pearce’s under-21 brethren and has scored seven goals as Villa have risen to fifth in the league and set their sights on a place in Europe. As with the prospect of a call from Capello, Agbonlahor retains a modest outlook. “We’re picking up points,” he said. “Let’s think of Europe, but the Champions League? I’m not sure about that. We’ll leave that to later.”

Premier League players pick prizewinners

— Got a good idea? Need financial support? The Football Foundation, in conjunction with the Nike Player Panel, is offering £40,000 in awards for small community-based sports projects led by young people. The emphasis is on rewarding volunteers.

— A panel of four players from the Barclays Premier League, including Gabriel Agbonlahor, the Aston Villa and England Under-21 striker, will select the best projects from each region: the North West, North East, Midlands and South. Paul Thorogood, the foundation’s chief executive, will chair the panel.

— The criteria are simple: projects must be submitted by under-25s who are volunteering in their local community and they must be using sport as a tool for social change within that community. Applications should be submitted via a video/photographic presentation and include a full description of the project in no more than 250 words.

— Agbonlahor said: “Work in the community is extremely important and, as one of the four ambassadors, I’m really looking forward to being involved.” He will be joined on the panel by Owen Hargreaves, Manchester United’s England midfield player, Steven Taylor, the Newcastle United defender, and Theo Walcott, the Arsenal winger.

— The awards scheme is a pilot, with a view to expanding it into 2009 and beyond. Each region will receive £10,000 from the initial Nike donation of £40,000, with each winning project receiving £5,000. Second place is worth £3,000, third place £2,000.

Information for applying to the player panel can be found at www.footballfoundation.org.uk/playerpanel