O'Neill backs Villa ace Gabby to win World Cup call

Martin O’Neill believes Gabby Agbonlahor can still make Fabio Capello’s England World Cup squad – because he has different qualities to Jermain Defoe.

Agbonlahor scored twice for Villa against Fulham last weekend to take his tally for the season to 10 and will go head-to-head with in-form England star Defoe at White Hart Lane today.

And the Villa boss believes the game – as well as Wednesday night’s game against Manchester United – will be crucial England auditions for Agbonlahor.

“I don’t know what is in Capello’s thinking,” said O’Neill. “But I assume that one of the positions you would be looking at is a natural goalscorer.

“I think Defoe is as a good a goalscorer as there is in the Premier League. But Gabby has other strengths.

“He’s very strong now on hold up play, bringing other people into it. I think he learned that during the time when he played on his own for three months last season.

“I think he’s capable of getting 20 League goals this season.”

“He’s very strong now on hold up play, bringing other people into it. I think he learned that during the time when he played on his own for three months last season.

“I think he’s capable of getting 20 League goals this season.”