Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has heaped praise on Leandro Bacuna for the impact he has made in his first season in the Premier League.

Bacuna, who joined the club from FC Groningen last June, has found the back of the net six times despite being mostly used as a right-back, and Lambert admits that his goal threat provides a big help to the team.

"It's his first time in the league and he's been a big bonus for us, Leo," Lambert told the Birmingham Mail. "Five goals from right-back, he's done great.

"To chip in with the amount of goals he has done has been brilliant.

"I've not worked with Leo for that long but he's definitely got that kind of energy in him, as he's proved."

Bacuna is expected to be involved against Stoke City at Villa Park on Sunday afternoon.