New Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce is ready to hand outcast Gabby Agbonlahor a career lifeline.
The 55-year-old will wipe the slate clean for the former club captain who has been banished from the first-team squad this season.
Agbonlahor had been training on his own after being left in the cold by former boss Roberto Di Matteo, who was sacked after 12 games last week, and has not played for the club since March.
Ex-England international Agbonlahor, who turned 30 on Thursday, was also dropped from the squad at the end of last season having been deemed unfit by former caretaker boss Eric Black.