The midfielder missed the second half of last season with a serious knee injury.

Villa star Boubacar Kamara believes he is back to somewhere approaching top speed following his return from injury.

The midfielder missed the second half of last season with the second serious knee injury of his Villa career.

He made his return during pre-season and has started every Premier League match for Unai Emery’s team.

And while the 26-year-old concedes it has taken time, he believes he has rediscovered his rhythm over recent weeks.

“I feel good. I needed time to recover my fitness and the rhythm of training and games,” he said.

“Now I feel better. My recovery after the games is better so I am happy.”

Kamara returned to a Villa side much-changed to the one he departed after damaging his knee ligaments in January’s FA Cup win at Tottenham

His central midfield partner Youri Tielemans moved to Manchester United, while Villa also saw the likes of Morgan Rogers, Ezri Konsa and Emi Martinez depart.

But Kamara believes summer addition Joao Gomes is learning quickly following his £38million switch from Wolves.

“Every midfielder we have knows how the manager wants us to play,” he said.

“With Youri and Joao, it is really the same. But we need time to get better and know each other better. Every midfielder is the same in this team.

“There was a lot of change, a lot of people and players left. But we are happy with the new players, they are fantastic.

“They work a lot and they understand how the manager wants to play.”

Kamara himself has played a vital role in Villa’s success under Emery.

The boss said: “He (Kamara) was so, so unlucky. He had two very bad injuries. He came back strongly the first time.

“Now the second time he is getting his fitness progressively. He has improved a lot of things. I am expecting again the best Bobua, with his qualities, maturity and his intelligence.”