Aston Villa loan star Nicolo Zaniolo is playing his best football since arriving at the club.

That is the view of his manager Unai Emery, who hailed the former Roma star.

Zaniolo, who is now 24, did struggle for portions of this season to keep up with the intensity of the Premier League.

"I am very happy with him," Emery said after Zaniolo popped up with a goal in a win over Wolves.

"Now is his moment because at the beginning of the season it was very difficult for him.

“The adaptation was tough, some individual circumstances were really difficult for him.

"We were here always to try and support him. His performances as well when he was playing, helping our way and in our structure we are building was not being like he was expecting or we were expecting.

"The last two months, something has changed of him. He is getting better for us. The last matches he is playing more, getting better performances as well.

"Now, we will need him and hopefully he can keep the same performances and the same ambition he is showing us. He is really wishing now to help the team and hopefully this won't stop until the end of the season.

"I told him, 'Nicolo, even if you are playing with us next year, even if you are going back to Galatasaray, even if you are back in Italy, I want the best of you and only I want good attitude you are showing now'."