Aston Villa ace Anwar El Ghazi aiming to follow in the footsteps of mentor and icon Dennis Bergkamp

El Ghazi, who joined Villa last week on a season-long loan from Lille, enjoyed an impressive debut in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Reading.

The 23-year-old came through the ranks at Ajax at the time when Bergkamp was assistant coach and has revealed how he would regularly hold nutmeg competitions with the Arsenal legend.

“Before training, when we were warming-up and having some fun, we would always try to nutmeg each other when the other person wasn’t concentrating fully,” said El Ghazi. “The honest answer is though, he beat me.”

He added: “Dennis was very important in the development of all the young players who were coming through at Ajax and I am grateful I had the opportunity to work with him.

“He is a Dutch footballing icon and someone all young players look up to.

“He had a great career at both club and international level and I know he was very successful in England when he played for Arsenal.”

El Ghazi, who revealed he also spoke to former Nottingham Forest ace Pierre van Hooijdonk before moving to Villa, provided the cross from which Ahmed Elmohamady headed Villa in front against the Royals.

Sam Baldock’s stoppage time spot-kick denied Villa all three points, with the performance of their debutant the biggest positive for boss Steve Bruce.

The manager believes El Ghazi will only improve once he adapts to the physical nature of the Championship.

“It is totally different to France or Holland,” said Bruce. “You go and watch a game and no disrespect and you can fall asleep, it is like a testimonial.

“Here it is frantic at times, and genuine and honest. If he adapts to that, he has all the ability in the world.

“He’s played 100 times for Ajax and in the Champions League and you can see why.

“Technically he is very very good, he has got to now find a way through with the robust nature of the Championship.”