Gabriel Agbonlahor will not feature against Chelsea as managerless Aston Villa carry out an investigation into the striker’s conduct.
The 29-year-old academy product has only made 15 Premier League appearances for the bottom club this season, and his future at Villa Park looks bleaker after Friday’s announcement.
A tweet from Villa announced that Agbonlahor, who was pictured apparently smoking a shisha pipe during a recent holiday in Dubai, would not be involved while an internal investigation into his behaviour is carried out.
Caretaker manager Eric Black, in charge after Remi Garde left on Tuesday, said: “There’s an internal investigation. I spoke to (board member) David Bernstein at length (on Thursday) and the club have taken a decision. I have taken a decision on the footballing side to remove him from the squad, purely because I don’t want anything to distract the players.”
Club captain Agbonlahor was pictured with Micah Richards, but the defender will be included against Chelsea. Black added: “I have spoken to Micah. It’s slightly different circumstances and he’s in the squad.”
Chelsea striker Diego Costa was already banned for the game and now he has been hit with an extra suspension after admitting a charge of improper conduct following his dismissal at Everton last month.
The striker was sent off for the first time in his Chelsea career in the FA Cup quarter-final loss at Goodison Park and given an automatic two-match ban, ruling him out of the draw with West Ham and and the Villa game.
Now Costa will also miss the April 9 match at Swansea after admitting the charge relating to his behaviour after he was shown a second yellow card against Everton.
With Costa suspended, Eden Hazard (groin/hip) injured and Oscar, Willian and Bertrand Traore only rejoining Chelsea Friday following international duty, Alexandre Pato could make his long-awaited debut on Saturday.
