Dean Smith tips Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz to get 'better and better'

The midfielder, who on Friday received his first senior Brazil call-up, returns on Saturday to former club Manchester City for the first time since joining Villa in a £15million summer move.

Luiz never made an appearance for Pep Gurdiola’s team, who were unable to secure a work permit after signing him from Vasco de Gama in 2017.

That allowed Villa to pounce and the 21-year-old has already scored two spectacular goals in just seven Premier League appearances.

But in recent weeks he has been forced to make do with appearances off the bench, due to the form of Marvelous Nakamba.

Boss Smith said: “You forget he’s only a young lad in a new country. He is playing games and getting better and better.

“He's scored two wonderful goals already this season and scored a wonderful goal for Brazil under-23s during the international break as well.

“He's certainly revered in Brazil and we're hoping he'll get better and better for us.”

Luiz, who spent the past two seasons on loan at Girona, has not started a Premier League match for Villa since the 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace in August.

“He's been in and out,” admitted Smith. “He didn't start the season because he only joined in the week before we played Spurs in the first game of the season.

“He got in against Bournemouth and played two or three games and then went away with Brazil.

“International duty is a long way when you go to South America. He looked jaded when he came back and Marvelous has come in and done really well. That's what I want. I want healthy competition within the team and we've got that.”

Smith continued: “He's never expressed any frustration over what happened at City. It was out of his control.

“They couldn't get a work permit for him, hence he went out on loan to Girona.

“We were fortunate we managed to get him and get a work permit for him and hopefully we can continue to reap the benefits.”