Philippe Coutinho sends brilliant four-word message to Aston Villa starlet Tim Iroegbunam

Aston Villa youngster Tim Iroegbunam made his Premier League debut in the 2-0 win over Brighton at the weekend and the 19-year-old has been praised for his impressive cameo off the bench.

Iroegbunam has continued to regularly train with Villa's first-team squad following the arrival of Steven Gerrard as Dean Smith successor back in November and he has been patiently waiting for his opportunity.

With Villa comfortably leading Graham Potter's Brighton on Saturday, Iroegbunam was substituted into the game on the 86th minute in replace of Philippe Coutinho.

Goals from Matty Cash and Ollie Watkins either side of half time put Villa in command as Gerrard's side got back to winning ways following a recent winless run win which saw the club take just one Premier League victory from the seven games leading up to the trip to Brighton.

Gerrard will be encouraged to hand Iroegbunam more minutes from now until the end of the season after he did his chances of featuring more regularly no harm with a confident performance at the Amex.

And after the match, Brazilian playmaker Coutinho sent Iroegbunam a message on social media.

He said on Instagram: "Congrats bro, well played."

Villa boss Gerrard wants to promote youth players through the first-team, with the likes of Iroegbunam, Carney Chukwuemeka and Tommi O'Reilly impressing in training, while several youngsters including Kaine Kesler-Hayden, Louie Barry, Jaden Philogene-Bidace and Cameron Archer develop out on loan in the EFL.