Nigel Reo-Coker believes Aston Villa team-mate Marlon Harewood can go from strength to strength during the final third of the season after rediscovering his "hunger" for the game.
Reo-Coker knows all about Harewood's qualities from their time together as team-mates at West Ham after the striker moved from Notts Forest.
The 27-year-old netted 16 league goals for the Hammers during the 2005-2006 campaign and moved to Villa Park last summer.
Harewood has had to endure a frustrating start to his Villa career and been down the pecking order behind Gabriel Agbonlahor and John Carew.
But he has made a big impact as a substitute in recent weeks and his introduction in the 4-1 win over Newcastle 10 days ago was hailed as a major factor after Martin O'Neill's side had trailed at half-time.
Reo-Coker said: "Marlon seems reborn. It is the same Marlon that was at Nottingham Forest - bullying players - and the hunger and appetite is there.
"It's taken him a while to settle and he's got that hunger back.
"It's been difficult for Marlon to go from first team regular at West Ham to a substitute at Villa - with a cameo appearance here and there.
"But he has made a big impact as a substitute. I am sure he will go from strength to strength now."
O'Neill said: "Marlon has made a big impact in recent times, starting when scoring at Liverpool after coming on.
"Then against Newcastle he rejuvenated us in the second half. He is great and he was so pumped up for it at half-time when he knew he was going on. He's thinking to himself 'I'll get the start soon."'
Villa's leading scorer Gabriel Agbonlahor has recovered sufficiently from the hamstring injury suffered at Fulham a fortnight ago.
That setback denied Agbonlahor his first England call-up for the friendly international against Switzerland and Reo-Coker is keen to attain the same recognition from Fabio Capello sooner rather than later.
And he is taken inspiration from the example of Villa skipper Gareth Barry who spent several years in the international wilderness before becoming a regular member of the side this season.
Reo-Coker said: "Not so long ago Gareth was dropped from the England squad and was out of contention. He might well not have had another chance this season if Frank Lampard had not been injured.
"But he has taken his chance and earned himself a lot of praise for his performances. This is a good example of how people might not know just how good a player can perform for England if he is not given the opportunity.
"The hardest part is getting that opportunity and given enough chances to establish yourself. But football is topsy-turvy and things change so quickly.
"I have set my sights on trying to force myself into winning England recognition."
O'Neill has to decide whether to persevere with midfielder Stiliyan Petrov whom he admitted is suffering from a crisis of confidence.
The former Celtic player has struggled to show his best form during his 18 months at Villa and was substituted at half-time against Newcastle.
O'Neill also brought right-back Olof Mellberg off at that juncture and replaced him with Craig Gardner and his reshuffle paid off as Villa scored four second half goals.
But the Irishman is adamant Mellberg's commitment to Villa has not wavered despite him agreeing to move to Juventus on a three-year contract in the summer.
He said: "There has not been a change in Olof since he signed for Juventus. Not at all. His attitude has been really good and the change against Newcastle was about getting a spark down the right hand side. I just wanted a bit more creativity.
"Olof has been brilliant for us but he is essentially a centre-half and he is going to go to Juventus to play centre-half. I have asked him to play right-back all season and he has done so without ever complaining."
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