Aston Villa boss Unai Emery is convinced by the potential of Tim Iroegbunam.

Emery is happy to promote the midfielder after releasing Leander Dendoncker on-loan to Napoli.

"We added in the pre-season Tim but he was injured and he started training with us in October and November," Emery said. "And he's doing a process with us. I think his characteristics as a player is more or less the same position trying to fight to or to share the position with Bouba Kamara. Leander Dendoncker is a little bit similar.

"When we were trying to analyse deeply how we can face the last four months in every competition we are facing, I decided to let Dendoncker to leave and to keep here Tim. I am going to work now after today and after the match tomorrow thinking to give him chances to progress with us here in the idea we are trying to build with Tim.

Asked if he is putting faith in the youth, Emery said: "We have to do it, we have to try and support and help. Tim has been working with us for five months. He started being injured in the summer but he was available training with us the last few months.

"I was testing him in each session we were having, it was a test for him. I was testing him with our coaches. I think he is a player who can progress and we think he could progress more now [after] giving him more chances to play."