Delfouneso keen to remain grounded

Published Jul. 17, 2010 8:11 a.m. ET

foxsports

The Villa youngster, who is currently away on international duty with England's Under-19s at the European Championships, is tipped for a bright future in the game. Having already shone for Villa's first-team on a number of occasions, he appears to be on his way to the very top. There are, however, a number of hurdles he must negotiate before he can claim to have achieved that level, with modern football littered with potential pitfalls. Far too many youngsters allow themselves to get taken in by big money and material possessions. Delfouneso understands how players can be lured off the path to superstardom, but insists he is level-headed enough to keep his eyes on the prize. The 19-year-old said: "It's down to the players as an individual. You are given that sort of money and you have earned that position, but once you get it, it's how you treat it. "You can't say you've made it because there's so much more to do. "My target is to achieve even more by the time I'm 20, and then 25, and then 30. "Some individuals can't handle it. Others say, 'I want more of this. I will work harder'. "You find out what type of person you are. You might have a nice car, but you can't just slack off. You have to keep learning, keep pushing. "If players don't, it's their downfall. You do get looked after, but you have to earn it."