Juan Pablo Angel has revealed that he never believed Aston Villa forward Gabriel Agbonlahor would turn out a good a player as he is.
The Chivas USA veteran spent time with Agbonlahor at Villa Park before he finally left the English club in 2007 - just as the 25-year old was breaking into the senior team.
Angel admits he didn't know much about Agbonlahor at the time but is delighted now that his old teammate has grown into a quality attacker who has scored four goals in the Premier League so far this season.
"I do remember him from my time at Villa but he was only a young player who made his debut when I was there," Angel told the Sunday Mercury.
"It was hard to tell whether he would make it.
"He had everything to make him a superstar, most of all the one tool that is extremely important in the modern game, which is his speed.
"But he was still young and at the end of the day it was up to him.
"It was hard to tell whether he was going to be a world class player or not.
"He started to become more involved with Martin O'Neill and he has now developed into a more mature player.
"What I have seen in him this year is very encouraging.
"I'm sure he would have been disappointed with having the season he had last year.
"Now he has something to prove. He'll want to be back in the England frame and he'll want to give himself the chance to be the player he wants to be."
