England U21 boss Stuart Pearce is convinced Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor is destined for big things on the international stage.

Ahead of the second-leg of their European Championship playoff against Wales, Pearce declared: "Agbonlahor gives us a cutting edge - pace and power in attack gives us cutting edge.

"He's a major threat at this level and he's a major threat in the Premier League.

"He is one of the big driving forces behind Aston Villa when they do well. The cutting edge in their team certainly comes from him.

"He is improving. If you ask me if I think he can get even better, then I think so.

"I think that will come over the next couple of years. He needs to try to have a tilt at getting into the seniors on a regular basis.

"I think he can improve all-round. His pace is legendary and I don't think he can improve that but his sharpness around the box, goalscoring and hold-up play can all improve.

"He's a very strong boy and there is senior football in him as well. That has to be our aim to get him from this team into the seniors on a regular basis, if we can.

"If you look at what Theo's pace did against Croatia and maybe on Saturday against Kazakhstan, Gabi's got the same - blistering pace. At international level that is a fantastic commodity to have.

"But everybody in our camp is looking forward to this game and we want to put a show on and get to the finals of a major tournament.

"Under-21 football is very well supported at the moment."