Gabby Agbonlahor maintained his scoring form in 2008-09, finishing with a total of 13, two more than the previous season.

And his haul included a hat-trick which was significant for a number of reasons.

His eight-minute treble in the opening game against Manchester City was the first Barclays Premier League hat-trick of the season and the fastest since Robbie Fowler's three for Liverpool against Arsenal in 1994. It was also the first time a Villa player had scored a hat-trick on the opening day since Pongo Waring hit four against Manchester United in 1930.

Agbonlahor's pace once again made him a handful for opposition defenders, just as it has throughout his graduation from Villa's youth teams to the senior side.

His impressive form also earned the former under-21 international his first full cap against Germany in Berlin in November 2008, followed by a second outing for Fabio Capello's team against Spain in February.