Manchester United vs Aston Villa: Gabby Agbonlahor dropped and put on two-week fitness regime

Aston Villa have sent Gabby Agbonlahor on a personal fitness programme ahead of their Premier League clash with Manchester United.

Agbonlahor, 29, missed the 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth on 9 April due to illness, but the club have now deemed him no longer physically fit enough for selection and he will not be considered for at least two weeks.

This is the second time in the space of a month the forward has not been considered for the squad, having also been left out of the 4-0 defeat to Chelsea on 2 April while the club investigated his conduct on holiday in Dubai in March.

"I sat down with Gabby on Monday," Villa caretaker manager Eric Black told a press conference ahead of the visit to Old Trafford.

"We have decided together that we don't think he's up to the fitness levels of the Premier League at this moment in time. He's got an individual programme that he will follow.

"Some of it will involve being with the group, some of it not with the group. We will reassess it in two weeks.

"He was fine with the virus. He trained fully on Monday. However we did have a sit down and came to a conclusion together to put this programme in place. He will work with the first team but more often than not with individual fitness coaches."

Villa could be relegated before they even kick off against United. Should Norwich City avoid defeat at home to Sunderland in Saturday's early kick-off, Villa's fate will be sealed without even touching a ball.

Rock-bottom of the Premier League, Black has suggested he will use Saturday's game as a chance to hand first-team opportunities to young duo Adama Traore and Jack Grealish, who both stepped up their returns to fitness in run outs for the Under-21 side on Monday.

"They have trained very, very well. I couldn't fault them," Black said. "There are a lot of players who have trained well this week so I will have to make a judgement on Adama and Jack.

"There will be competition – even competition for places on the bench. That's pleasing."