Gabriel Agbonlahor has scored six Premier League goals this season

Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor can still make England's World Cup squad, according to Martin O'Neill.

Agbonlahor has won his first three England caps under Fabio Capello.

But, although overlooked for the Brazil friendly, O'Neill reckons that if Agbonlahor can keep scoring for Villa, he could yet make it to South Africa.

"I said to Gabby at the start of the season 'you'd be hard to ignore if you're in the top three of the scoring charts'," said Villa manager O'Neill.

"I still think the carrot of going to the World Cup with England and playing in it is very, very strong."

After making his England debut against Germany in November 2008, 23-year-old Agbonlahor started against Spain last February and Belarus last month before being left out of the weakened squad which went to face Brazil in Qatar.

"I haven't spoken to the England manager about why Gabby was left out of the squad," O'Neill told the club's website. "He'll have his own reasons for that.

"I don't know if Gabby has been given a reason for his exclusion.

"Having played the last time, it will be a wee bit disappointing for him.

Each of the lads here who have played for England have at various stages stated a reasonable claim for inclusion. I still think there's time for them Villa boss Martin O'Neill

"But the England manager has his own way of doing things - and I'm not going to be arguing with that. He's got a number of choices to make."

Agbonlahor has scored six Premier League goals so far this season and is on course to beat his best haul for the campaign of 11 strikes (which he has notched in both the last two Premier League seasons).

And O'Neill insists: "I still think club form will count a great deal in the closing stages. I definitely think that.

"Each of the lads here who have played for England have at various stages stated a reasonable claim for inclusion. I still think there's time for them.

"Club performances will play a part in proceedings. The next international comes around in March so there's still another big three months.

"It's important for the players. There's no breaks coming up and they can concentrate solely on their club form and take it on from there."

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