N'Zogbia must help himself

Charles N'Zogbia: Frustrated by his inability to produce his best in an Aston Villa shirt

Alex McLeish has warned disgruntled Aston Villa winger Charles N'Zogbia that the only person who can help to improve his mood is himself.

The Frenchman announced via Twitter over the weekend that he is not enjoying his football 'for the first time in my career'.

N'Zogbia has endured an inconsistent debut campaign at Villa, with a £9million switch from Wigan last summer having failed to bring the best out of him.

He conceded after Sunday's 2-1 defeat by former employers Newcastle that his troubles on the field are beginning to take their toll.

McLeish understands that players will experience emotional highs and lows over the course of a gruelling campaign, but has called on N'Zogbia to knuckle down and play his way back into form.

"I've said it before, that Twitter and the social networks is not a world familiar to me," said the Scot.

Frustrated

"Years ago, players would have hammered down the manager's door when they were frustrated rather than letting their feelings known on the internet.

"But it amounts to the same thing in that you just can't tell people you are frustrated, you have to do something about it by consistently playing well.

"If Charles is not enjoying his football, then he needs to do something about it on the pitch - and that applies to everyone and not just Charles N'Zogbia.

"It is not a coincidence the best moments Charles has had in a Villa shirt have come when he has been working hard - and that's when you get the best rewards in anything."

Meanwhile, McLeish has confirmed that Villa are to explore the possibility of introducing Gabriel Agbonlahor to yoga in an effort to get to the bottom of his niggling back problems.

He said: "It is something we will be talking about with the doctor and fitness coach to see whether Gabby is going to embark on yoga. One or two players already do it here."