New Villa recruit Emile Heskey today toasted his debut winner against Portsmouth – and insisted the best is yet to come.

Heskey, who joined in a £3.5m move from Wigan last week, made the perfect start to his Villa career by netting the game’s only goal in Martin O’Neill’s side’s 1-0 victory at Fratton Park.

The result propelled Villa into third, level on points with Liverpool, and the England star revealed he is confident the claret and blues can hold on to a Champions League spot for the remainder of the campaign.

“The team played great,” said Heskey. “Gabby Agbonlahor flicked one on for me and I managed to get on the end of it and keep it down. It was nice to get on the scoresheet so early.

“I hope the manager here can bring even more out of me, only time will tell. The lads see it that the top four every year has been the same old story, so hopefully we can break into that. I think we have a squad with the qualities needed to do that.”

Despite having played for Liverpool, who were linked with a summer move when his contract ran out, Heskey admitted he was nervous joining a club the size of Villa.

“Coming to a big club like this I was a little bit nervous,” added Heskey. “I’ve settled in really well, the lads have taken to me.

“It felt right more or less as soon as I walked through the door.”