Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor intends to celebrate signing his new contract in style by making a flying start to the new Barclays Premier League season.

Agbonlahor is now tied to Villa until the summer of 2012 after agreeing a four-year deal, and he is already in goalscoring form after hitting the target in the 4-1 UEFA Cup qualifier win against FH Hafnarfjordur.

Ahead of Sunday's league clash against Manchester City at Villa Park, the England Under-21 international said: "I am delighted to have signed the contract. It has been on the go for a while.

"Hopefully, I can now build on what I achieved last season, we can score more goals and get into the top six again.  If we can do that and also get a decent run in the UEFA Cup then it will be a good season.

"It was good for the team to get a few goals in Iceland."

Agbonlahor was joined on the scoresheet against the Icelandic minnows by Gareth Barry whose future now looks increasingly likely to be at Villa Park.

That will please Agbonlahor and the rest of his Villa team-mates.

"All the players are really happy that he played and played really well," added Agbonlahor.  "His goal meant a lot to the team and I think you could see that by the way we celebrated when he scored.

"He has started for England over the last couple of years so that tells you what a top player he is."

Villa were watched by England boss Fabio Capello in Iceland and Agbonlahor hopes he can follow Barry into the senior England set-up on a regular basis.

The 21-year-old has been putting in a lot of work in the gym to improve his strength and said: "I want to keep improving. I feel as though I have progressed over the last two seasons and I want to keep playing week-in, week-out.

"I am feeling a lot stronger now and you need to be as a striker to make sure that you don't get pushed off the ball.

"Forwards need to be stronger now when you come up against top defenders. Manchester City have got some good defenders and I know Micah Richards well from the England Under-21s. He is a very strong player.

"But we have got a good forward line at Villa and we can hurt teams this season."

Villa boss Martin O'Neill has spent heavily this summer to boost his squad but attack is one area he has yet to strengthen.

Agbonlahor is braced for possible new arrivals and he said: "If anyone comes in it will keep the strikers on their toes."