Villa's Manzambi shows Newcastle what they missed out on

Johan Manzambi saw first hand how good Aston Villa were last season and is now playing a crucial part in Unai Emery's rebuild in this campaign.

Switzerland midfielder Manzambi, who turned 21 on Wednesday, scored his third goal in Villa colours with the winner in a 1-0 victory over Newcastle - the club he turned down before moving to Villa Park in the summer.

Manzambi played a crucial role in helping Freiburg reach the Europa League final, before the Germans were comprehensively beaten by a Villa side that scored three times in the opening hour on their way to a 3-0 success.

Asked why he had joined Villa, Manzambi said: "The team was very good and I played against them in the final. It's a very good team with a big coach and that was perfect for me."

For Newcastle fans it was one that had got away, as Manzambi had looked set for a move to St James' Park before opting to join Villa in a club record deal of just over £50m.

Manzambi headed in the winner in the north east on Saturday, unmarked eight yards out when found by Joao Gomes' excellent cross.

It comes after he also found the back of the net in the 3-2 win at Tottenham and in the 6-0 thrashing of Fenerbahce in the Champions League.

"He has made a very good impact with his qualities," said a delighted Emery. "Skills and intelligence, both he has, and his physicality is very important as well to help us defensively and to help us try to keep the duels offensively.

"So happy he has scored another goal, fantastic for him."

One of the brightest talents in world football

Among players in the Bundesliga in his position last season, Manzambi ranked first for progressive carries of 10 metres or more (116), shot-ending carries (13) and fouls won (78).

He then impressed in the World Cup, scoring twice in the 4-1 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina, getting a goal and an assist in the 2-1 victory over co-hosts Canada and also registering an assist in the 2-0 success over Algeria.

Unfortunately for Manzambi and Switzerland, a knee injury ruled him out of the last-16 penalty shootout win over Colombia and their quarter-final loss to Argentina.

So impressive were his performances last season, that Manzambi finds himself on a 10-man list for the Kopa Trophy, awarded to the world's best player aged under 21.

Also on the shortlist are Spain World Cup winners Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi, along with Yan Diomande - whose performances earned him a move to Real Madrid, with the winner named on 26 October.

Since his first start for Aston Villa on 19 September against Spurs, only Manchester City's Erling Haaland - with six - has been involved in more goals among Premier League players in all competitions than Manzambi's five (three goals, two assists).

Team-mate Nicolas Jackson, another to join Villa in the transfer window in a deal worth up to £65m from Chelsea, was quick to praise the youngster.

"He's an amazing player," said Jackson. "He's still growing. Hopefully he can be better and better every game, score goals and assist me as well. Hopefully we work together and achieve many things together.

"He will go a long way and hopefully gets no injuries."

While playing a crucial role in Villa's present and future, the team he has joined is a lot different to the one he played against in the Europa League final.

From the Villa side that won in Istanbul, six of them - goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, defenders Lucas Digne and Ezri Konsa, midfielders Youri Tielemans and Morgan Rogers and striker Ollie Watkins - all left in high-profile moves, while substitutes Harvey Elliott, Jadon Sancho and Leon Bailey are also no longer at the club.

It proved a challenging start to the season for Villa as they only picked up one point from their opening four league games, but this win over Newcastle has extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to five matches.

As well as moving up to 12th in the Premier League, Villa have six points from two ties in the Champions League after thrashing Fenerbahce 6-0 on Wednesday and are in the last 16 of the Carabao Cup, where they play at Bournemouth.

How Manzambi became one of Europe's best young talents

Botman challenge 'nearly broke my leg', says Jackson

Jackson has scored five times for Villa since his move and said he was lucky to avoid a serious injury when he was caught in the first half by Newcastle's Sven Botman, who was only shown a yellow card despite an over-the-ball challenge.

"I know the referee said yellow card but it was so high and hopefully maybe next time a red card, but it was a yellow," said Jackson. "I nearly broke my leg but anyway it's part of football. The most important thing is we win and we won, so I'm OK."