Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has waxed lyrical about Bertrand Traore following his winner at Leicester City on Tuesday night.
The Villans boss told the Birmingham Mail that everybody at Villa Park loves the 27-year-old.
Emery also raved about Traore’s skills, attitude, and quality in front of goal.
Traore joined Villa from Lyon in 2020 for a reported £17million fee plus £2million in add-ons (Sky Sports).
He was a regular in his first season with the Villans, clocking up 36 appearances in the Premier League.
Traore also chipped in with seven goals and seven assists in the English top flight.
However, last season was difficult for the winger amid injuries and illness.
He made just 10 appearances in all competitions, and just one start in the Premier League.
Last summer, Traore joined Istanbul Basaksehir on loan, but he was recalled in January.
Villa struggled to land any of their top targets in the forward positions, so he returned for the sake of squad depth.
Traore has made three Premier League appearances since returning to Villa Park, all off the bench.
And on Tuesday, he scored his first goal in claret-and-blue in nearly two years.
Traore’s superb effort late on at Leicester City helped propel Villa into the European places.
‘He’s a very good guy’
After the game, the Birmingham Mail prompted Emery to give his thoughts on the Burkina Faso international.
“Yes, Bertrand Traore! He’s very appreciated in the dressing room,” he said. “Everybody loves him.
“He decided to come back [in January] to help us.
“He was progressing because he was injured at the beginning and, today, everyone is happy.
“He’s a very good guy. He has good skills, good 1-vs-1. He has the capacity to score and he helps us.
“The goal is great for him.”
Traore’s contract expires at the end of the 2023-24 campaign and it remains to be seen what his future holds.
Nevertheless, it was a superb moment for player and club alike, one that could make a big difference come May.