Source: Telegraph
Gabriel Agbonlahor happy to pile on pounds to reach fighting weight
Agbonlahor bulked up after deciding he was too lightweight to take on the Premier League's top defenders. But he insists his new appearance will not be to the detriment of his lightning pace, which has been his trademark.
Agbonlahor said: "I did a lot of work during the summer, a fair bit of weight training to improve my physique. I thought about it last season. I want to be able to hold my own physically against the likes of Rio Ferdinand and John Terry.
"There was no particular game where I thought 'I need to do this'. I just thought there was no harm in getting a bit bigger and a bit stronger. It always helps.
"I just don't want to get bullied up front and I don't want to get easily pushed off the ball by these experienced defenders. Lads like John Carew and Emile Heskey can look after themselves on the pitch. I wanted to be like that, too."
Agbonlahor added: "It's obviously important I don't lose my speed in the process. It's a balancing act but I think I've got it spot on, so I'm happy.
"The gaffer wants me to stop now because he doesn't want me to lose that speed up front. I'm sure it's still there. The work definitely hasn't affected me. I needed to stop at a certain limit and I've done that now.
"I'm never going to be as big and strong as John and Emile but it's good to not get pushed off the ball. That's so important as a striker. It can only help. In the past few games, the manager has played me up on my own and my new physique has definitely helped."
Across the city, Birmingham central defender Martin Taylor has targeted early October for a return to action after suffering an ankle injury during pre-season.
Taylor sustained the setback during the friendly with Nottingham Forest at the City Ground in early August.
The 29 year-old has already missed City's opening four Barclays Premier League games but is hopeful of being back in contention in three weeks.
Taylor said: "The injury is going quite well. Obviously it's frustrating to miss the start of the season but I think it's been about five weeks now and we've probably got about three weeks to go.
"It's a really frustrating time for me. I'd had a good pre-season and I felt really fit and raring to go for the start of the season. Then not even two weeks before the start of the season I pick up an injury that keeps me out for a couple of months.
"I'm going to have to do another pre-season-type programme now to get back."
Striker Cameron Jerome has confirmed he is making slow progress after picking up an ankle problem against Portsmouth at St Andrew's three weeks ago. He said: "The injury is coming on all right at the moment. It's just steady rehab. I'm a couple of weeks away yet before I can step it up with running and get back into training. It's a matter of taking my time, strengthening it up and letting it heal.
"I've missed a couple of games already and, with this international break, that gives me an extra week for me to get fit and stronger. Hopefully I can come back as quickly as possible and it won't be so long in rehab."
Earlier this week Birmingahm manager Alex McLeish said: "Jerome has had scans on the troubled area and the news is not great. It's enough to keep him out for maybe another month. It was one of those ligament-type injuries. He got a kick on his ankle and heel. It's a blow as Cameron was looking to show us that he's maturing into a Premier League player."
