Garde: Door not shut for Agbonlahor

Remi Garde is willing to start a clean slate with Aston
Villa forward Gabriel Agbonlahor.Photo: Filed.

Aston Villa manager Remi Garde is open to fresh talks with
striker Gabriel Agbonlahor after leaving the striker out of last
week's squad.

Agbonlahor was a late substitute in the 1-1 draw at
Southampton on December 5 but did not even make the bench
for last week's 2-0 home loss to Arsenal and has reportedly
made his feelings known about Garde's training regime.

However, Garde has not closed the door on the out-of-favour
29-year-old.

"For Gabby and for the rest of the team, you know when you
change manager, when you change the way of working, when
things chance maybe suddenly, you don't feel comfortable,"
Garde said.

"I feel the choice is there for the moment, but when a player is
not selected in the team, like Gabby is for last time, obviously it
creates a little bit of disagreement.

"But disagreements in life or mistakes in life are not definite.

Sometimes with disagreements or mistakes you learn and then
you say okay, have a discussion and then a new start."

Agbonlahor has struggled for form thus far this season, failing
to score a single goal.

Villa - bottom of the table - continue their fight against relegation
with a trip to Newcastle on Saturday.