AGBONLAHOR REFLECTS ON 'GREAT SEASON'

Agbonlahor - has impressed for Villa.

Gabriel Agbonlahor believes he has proved to be "more than a one-season wonder" and is relishing the prospect of securing European football for Aston Villa.

Striker Agbonlahor made an immediate impact during Martin O'Neill's first campaign at the helm and was a virtual ever-present as he broke into the England Under-21 squad.

But he has stepped his game up to the next level during 2007-2008 to help Villa finish sixth in the Barclays Premier League and be recognised by England coach Fabio Capello.

Now one win in the Intertoto Cup in mid-July will ensure Villa participate in the UEFA Cup for the first time in seven years since the John Gregory era.

Agbonlahor said: "It has definitely been a great season for me with my England call-up and everything else and I am pleased with how I have come on and I feel I have made progress.

"People wondered if I could do well again this season and I definitely feel I have shown everyone I can do it for more than one season now.

"Hopefully I have proved I am no one-hit wonder and have shut my critics up now."

Agbonlahor, who has formed a formidable strike trio along with Ashley Young and John Carew, feels he can progress even more by playing in Europe next season.

He said: "Being in Europe will be great for us. It brings a different style of football, different sorts of challenges, and will make us better players.

"Everyone wants to play European football and now that is something we can look forward to next season. We just need to get through the one (Intertoto) round."

Agbonlahor has hailed the impact of O'Neill in getting the best out of the smallest squad in the Premier League.

He said: "The team spirit has been really great because we have been operating with a small squad and the manager has been great too and really inspired us.

"I think the manager had a lot to prove with us having a really small squad and it is job done well now really."