Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood has rejected warnings that Charles N'Zogbia would 'let him down' by describing the winger as a "grafter".
The 28-year-old has been given two starts in a row, which is his first since December, under Sherwood.
Sherwood has revealed that when arriving in the Villa hotseat last month, he was warned about N'Zogbia's work-rate, which he claims was likened to that of Emmanuel Adebayor at Tottenham Hotspur.
"I am seeing him go and get clean kit after training and do his little bit extra and he gets rewarded for that," the Daily Mail quotes Sherwood as saying. "He is a grafter, he is similar to Emmanuel Adebayor.
"People want to rubbish them but I have never had a problem with Adebayor or Charles N'Zogbia. I don't know who has been rubbishing him but I've heard he might let you down.
"I take him on face value and he ain't let me down yet. I have told him and told him straight he is one of the best players in the team who can effect a football match."
N'Zogbia impressed during Villa's 2-0 win over West Bromwich Albion in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup on Saturday.
