Simon Adingra has been backed to keep working hard – and keep improving.

The Albion winger was man of the match in the 1-0 win over Aston Villa on Sunday.

He is enjoying a breakthrough season which has seen him shine in the Premier League and enjoy massive international success with Ivory Coast at AFCON.

Albion boss Roberto De Zerbi said: “Adingra I think was the best player for us (against Villa).

“Anyway, he can improve. We have to give him the right time to improve, to progress.

“The most important thing is to be a smart guy and good guy with the right attitude to improve.

“If you believe you have done enough, you can’t improve.

“Simon Adingra is a smart guy and he wants to improve every day and in every training session.”

Kaoru Mitoma, who blazed the Albion trail for Adingra via a season at Union St-Gilloise, was an interested spectator at the Villa game as he continues to nurse a back issue.

The Japan international is five years older than Adingra.

De Zerbi said: “There is a difference today between Adingra and Mitoma and you know why? Age and the number of games they have played.”