Former Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill is impressed by Unai Emery's work at Villa Park.

Villa are well placed to finish in the European places this season.

O'Neill told talkSPORT: "They're in a fantastic run. They've got an excellent manager in charge as well, his record speaks for itself. There's no reason why they shouldn't be where Aston Villa probably expect to be."

On 17-goal striker Ollie Watkins, O'Neill also said: "I think he [Watkins] said it himself in an interview that he is now conserving energy, he's spending more time running positively rather than negatively," O'Neill added. "I know exactly what he's talking about because you're making a lot of runs, possibly unselfish runs but by the time it comes down to the real business, he's taken the energy to go and do what you wanted to do in the first place.

"So if that is being helped by the manager, that's excellent news for him."