Nice manager Lucien Favre is convinced Mario Balotelli will build on his two-goal debut.

The Italy international marked his debut following a deadline-day move from Liverpool by scoring twice in Nice's thrilling 3-2 victory over Marseille last weekend to take them into second place.

"We were all happy that he (Balotelli) scored twice against Marseille," Favre was quoted as saying on the official Ligue 1 website.

"He's ready to make an effort. He always manages to do something positive, to keep the ball.

"If there is improvement, even just a tiny amount, in the coming weeks, it'll be positive."