Aston Villa hero Dalian Atkinson says the club's current strikers can improve their understanding by socialising with eachother.

The former 1994 League Cup-winning striker is convinced Gabriel Agbonlahor could click with Emile Heskey or John Carew providing the forwards start communicating more.

"I think that it could work with any combination of Agbonlahor, Heskey and Carew because they're all top quality strikers," Atkinson told the Birmingham Mail.

"When you're playing at that level you should be able to play alongside any other player.

"Carew has scored goals wherever he's been and although I think Heskey should stay on his feet a bit more he's proved over time what a good striker he is.

"You just need to learn each other's game and the best way of doing that is talking to each other on and off the pitch.

"If you're constantly telling your strike partner and your other team-mates what runs you like making and where you want the ball played then it becomes so much easier. If I was Carew, Heskey or Agbonlahor I'd make a point of getting together for a regular chat to try to sort things out."