Lamare Bogarde believes that his growing confidence, combined with the trust shown in him by Unai Emery, is helping him reach new levels in his game this season.

The midfielder made successive Premier League starts on Sunday and was a contender for man of the match in Villa’s 2-1 win over Burnley, having also impressed against Fulham the previous weekend.

He has developed significantly over the last 18 months, breaking into Emery’s first-team plans last season, although he was often used as a stop-gap at right-back, centre-back, or in midfield.

After playing some of his best football in the midfield double pivot - alongside Boubacar Kamara or John McGinn - it appears that this is the role Emery will allow him to focus on and develop in moving forward.

“It is always good to start games. Last year, I started a couple. This season I feel like I can do more and I think the manager feels that now, as well. He feels he can trust me,” Bogarde said after impressing against Burnley on Sunday.

“Whenever I...