Angel ready to deliver the goods

Juan Pablo Angel has told Aston Villa fans he can "deliver the goods and the goals" after completing his £9.5million club record move to the club.

Juan Pablo Angel has told Aston Villa fans he can "deliver the goods and the goals" after completing his £9.5million club record move to the club.

But the Colombian international pleaded for time to be allowed to settle in after three weeks out of action since the end of the Argentine season.

Angel is seen as the answer to Villa manager John Gregory's six-month search for a proven goalscorer after hitting the net 17 times in as many matches for River Plate.

He put pen to paper on a four-and-a-half-year contract and is in line to play at least part of Saturday's Premiership clash at leaders Manchester United.

Angel said: "It's been a long-held ambition of mine to play in the Premiership and I will try to adapt as soon as possible to the English game.

"People mention the price tag but that is between the two clubs and for me is not important.

"What is important is for me to start performing as quickly as possible for Aston Villa and I believe that I can handle the pressure.

"Villa have had some big-name strikers like Savo Milosevic and Stan Collymore who have not always delivered the goods but I want to break that mould.

"I played for River Plate who are a big team in Argentina when the pressure is always on and I can handle it here.

"I am very excited but not afraid of the task ahead and I think I can score goals in England. I always want to score.

"Any pressure that might be on me will disappear if I start performing well, but I hope people realise that I first have to get fit to play because the season in Argentina finished a month ago and I have been on holiday.

"I will need some time to get fit but I hope to play as soon as possible, although I do not know if I will play in the next match."

Angel watched Villa being hammered 3-0 at home by Liverpool on Saturday, but said: "I don't really want to talk about that game.

"I've only been here two days, it was only one match. It was unfortunate but it is impossible to give an opinion based on one game."

Villa manager, John Gregory, said: "I am delighted to have finally secured his services. It feels great.

"I wish we could have had him for the weekend game with Liverpool and it's been a long drawn-out affair, but we have got there in the end.

"There were a few regulations that might have been breached initially and we had to make sure everything was done in the correct manner, and that is the case now.

"Angel's record is exceptional. He has got better and better every year with River Plate.

"He scores all sorts of goals, tap-ins and also spectacular goals. He has definitely got an eye for the goal and we would expect him to score them for us.

"He was a bit solemn after watching Saturday's game and disappointed with the outcome, but at least he has seen us play and got some idea of our system, and I can't wait to get him going for us.

"Apart from being a good goal scorer, he is also a good team player. But we don't have a natural poacher and he can do that job.

"Putting the ball into the net is one area where we have not done ourselves justice and I see him overcoming that for us."

Angel is ineligible for Wednesday's FA Cup replay with Newcastle United at Villa Park.

But his arrival will put pressure on David Ginola, again out of sorts on Saturday, and Dion Dublin to start delivering the goods.

Ginola was taken off at half-time against Liverpool with Gregory critical of his work rate and he would appear to be the most likely player to make way for Angel unless he starts performing on a consistent basis.

more courts articles

Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother
Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van
Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman

More in this section

Manchester City v Liverpool FC - Premier League S Larry Ryan: Should we let coach Klopp write his own ending?
Donegal v Tyrone - Ulster GAA Football Senior Championship Semi-Final Cork vs Mayo game switched from Mallow, Fermanagh vs Armagh rescheduled
Cork v Kerry - Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 1 Limerick forced to move National Hurling League game from Gaelic Grounds
ieStyle Live 2021 Logo
ieStyle Live 2021 Logo

IE Logo
Outdoor Trails

Discover the great outdoors on Ireland's best walking trails

IE Logo
Outdoor Trails

Sport
Newsletter

Latest news from the world of sport, along with the best in opinion from our outstanding team of sports writers

Sign up
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited