Unai Emery hailed Youri Tielemans after Aston Villa's 3-1 win over Fulham and has revealed the Belgian international was frustrated with his performance levels in the opening weeks of the campaign.

The midfielder made his first Premier League start for Villa since joining on a free transfer following his departure from Leicester City in the summer. His performances are improving week on week after a difficult start to life at Villa Park.

Tielemans played a key role in Villa's opening goal as it was his cross which was turned into the net by Antonee Robinson. He then continued to influence the game in the first half before Villa appeared to step off the gas in the second and play for counter-attacks, which worked as Ollie Watkins bagged the host's third before Raul Jimenez scored a consolation goal in the 70th minute.

"I spoke with him a lot about his positioning on the pitch and his role in the squad," Emery said in his post-match press conference. "His adaptation is progressively getting better and his adaptation is as well understanding and always helping the team and the players. He is very professional and he has experiences here because he wants to do one step ahead in his career through Aston Villa.

"He is very honest and he knows at the beginning he wasn't playing feeling good and sometimes as well the adaptation in another position is a lot bit more difficult. It was not easy.

"For example he played the first 45 minutes in Newcastle in the second on the left side and today he played on the left side and the difference was clear. Not only him, as well the team.

"The team must try to help each other individually as well to be comfortable. He is working every day and he is training every day trying to understand everything. The players who signed in the summer, they need a process and one of them is Youri Tielemans. With the quality he has and the high commitment he is showing, it is easier."