• Premier League

Every game is for Petrov - Agbonlahor

ESPN staff
April 11, 2012
Agbonlahor has scored six goals for Villa this season © PA Photos
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Aston Villa captain Gabriel Agbonlahor believes that being handed the armband in the absence of Stiliyan Petrov has given him extra incentive to do his team-mate proud.

Petrov was diagnosed with acute leukaemia a day before Villa faced Chelsea in March and is currently undergoing treatment having vowed to beat the disease. In his absence, Agbonlahor, who joined Villa as a youth player in 1994 and has made 242 appearances for the club, has been installed as the new club captain.

But while the Birmingham-born striker is thrilled with the honour and is keen to follow in the footsteps of his predecessors in the role, he insists that "there's only one captain" at Villa Park.

"Olof Mellberg was the man with the armband when I made my debut in 2006 and since then we have had Gareth Barry, Martin Laursen and, of course, Stiliyan," Agbonlahor said. "I'm learned a lot from all of them and I've also matured as a player so the prospect of being captain isn't as daunting as it might have been a couple of years ago.

"It's obviously a big thing for me. Maybe it's not something I imagined when I first broke into the team, but it's a privilege to be following some great Villa captains. I'm willing to do the job for as long as required, although as far as I'm concerned there's only one captain of this club.

"I am honoured to be wearing the captain's armband and I just wish it could have been in different circumstances. My biggest wish is that Stiliyan will come back and lead us again."

Agbonlahor admits he was stunned by Petrov's diagnosis, not least because the midfielder is one of the fittest players at the club.

"I've known Stiliyan for nearly six years and he's a fighter so I'm confident he will come through this," Agbonlahor added. "The really difficult thing to take in is that Stiliyan was in better condition than most players when the diagnosis was made. He has the healthiest lifestyle and diet of any us, and he is always the most hydrated."

Draws with Liverpool and Stoke have helped Villa edge towards safety after a disappointing campaign, but with only seven points separating themselves from the relegation zone Agbonlahor admits the season is not yet over

But Alex McLeish's side now have something other than pride and Premier League survival to play for.

"We will all give 100 per cent and try to get a result for Stan in every game from now until the end of the season," Agbonlahor said. "It has affected me a lot because I'm very close to him. Every time I make a tackle, every time I make a run I keep thinking 'this is for Stiliyan'."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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