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Lamare Bogarde believes that his growing confidence, combined with the trust shown in him by Unai Emery , is helping him reach new levels in his game this season.

The midfielder made successive Premier League starts on Sunday and was a contender for man of the match in Villa’s 2-1 win over Burnley , having also impressed against Fulham the previous weekend.

He has developed significantly over the last 18 months, breaking into Emery’s first-team plans last season, although he was often used as a stop-gap at right-back, centre-back, or in midfield.

After playing some of his best football in the midfield double pivot - alongside Boubacar Kamara or John McGinn - it appears that this is the role Emery will allow him to focus on and develop in moving forward.

“It is alway

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