Ezri Konsa is living out his dream in an England shirt - and Unai Emery can’t help but beam with pride at the prospect of his defender shining on the World Cup stage next summer.

It was a year after Emery replaced Steven Gerrard that Konsa received his first call-up to the England national team. Although his progress under Dean Smith had already been evident, it’s no exaggeration to say that Emery’s arrival elevated his - and many of his teammates’ - games to the next level.

With only eight more Premier League appearances, Konsa will move into the top 10 appearance-makers in the club’s history in the competition.

A stalwart of this Villa era, Konsa, now 27, continues to grow under Emery - a huge plus for both club and country. Yet, as his Villa boss explains, representing England wasn’t always a given, as the defender also has Portuguese heritage.

“I’m so, so happy with him,” Emery said about his progress. “Of course, his development here, since we arrived, is the consequence...