Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has praised new arrival Carles Gil for his "outstanding" debut in the home defeat to Liverpool on Saturday.

The Spanish midfielder, who joined from Valencia on a four-and-half-year contract this week, played 31 minutes as a substitute in the West Midlands.

While he could not prevent the hosts from falling to a 2-0 loss, Lambert saw plenty of promise in the way in which Gil lifted Villa after his introduction.

"He was excellent. He's a real talent," he told reporters. "At just 22 years old and to have come from another league where he was in and out of the side at Valencia and give us that lift. It was an outstanding debut."

Gil scored one goal in 11 games for Valencia after signing from Elche on a free transfer last summer.