Aston Villa manager Dean Smith has praised the impact Ross Barkley has had since his summer loan move from Chelsea.
The 26-year-old has made three appearances in the Premier League this season, scoring once and impressing with his showings in central midfield.
Villa sit all the way up in third place after a fantastic start, having stayed up by the skin of their teeth last campaign.
Smith, who has managed the club since replacing Steve Bruce in October 2018, believes that Barkley's performances reflect his ambitions to fight for a call-up to England 's Euro 2020 squad next summer.
"He's someone I felt we needed," said Smith ahead of Villa's Premier League match against Southampton this weekend.
"I look at the Premier League and you need legs in your midfield area because you've got to cover a lot of ground in a game. Ross does that.
"He's got ambitions to get into the Euro squad at the end of the season. With the quality Chelsea have got they couldn't guarantee anyone minutes.
"His work ethic and attitude has been tremendous. He brings us that added bit of quality that we needed."
The peak of Villa's season so far was undoubtedly the sensational 7-2 dismantling of defending champions Liverpool earlier this month, with Barkley netting his side's fifth goal five minutes before the hour mark.
He played 21 times in the Premier League for Chelsea last season but faces increased competition for a starting spot at Stamford Bridge following the arrivals of Hakim Ziyech and Kai Havertz.
Barkley remains contracted with the Blues until the summer of 2023.
