Agbonlahor harbours England World Cup hopes

Gabriel Agbonlahor hopes an impressive season for Aston Villa can earn him an unlikely place in England’s FIFA World Cup squad.

The 27-year-old striker has three caps but has not featured for England since 2009 when he played 66 minutes of a 3-0 win over Belarus.

While he is yet to score for Villa this season, Agbonlahor hopes a surge in form can put him in Roy Hodgson’s plans for the tournament in Brazil next year.

“I’ve always been desperate to play for England. World Cups, European Championships, qualifying matches – even a friendly – it doesn’t matter to me,” he told The Sun.

“It’s always an honour to play for your country. Every time you pull on an England shirt is an honour as far as I’m concerned.

“There must be reasons why I haven’t been in the squad as much as I feel I should, but that’s down to me, no one else.

“It’s my job to have a really good season and show what I can do.

“It’d be a massive honour to go to the World Cup and represent England in Brazil. If not, I’ll simply put my head down and start working towards making the squad for the 2018 finals in Russia.”

Agbonlahor has seen Tottenham’s Andros Townsend earn a place in Hodgson’s starting XI, playing an important role in England’s final two qualifiers.

Townsend’s emergence has given Agbonlahor hope of reclaiming a place for England.

“A few months ago who would have thought Andros Townsend would start England’s most important qualifier?,” he continued.

“It is clear Roy Hodgson will pick his squad with his backroom staff, regardless of what other people think.

“In six months’ time, it could be a totally different one.

“It gives me hope. But the same applies to maybe 40-45 players in the country.”