Two players produced memorable firsts to drag Aston Villa off the bottom of the Championship and inspire their first league win of the season. For midfielder Conor Hourihane, it was a first hat-trick of his career, while manager Steve Bruce was sufficiently impressed with 19-year-old striker Keinan Davis on his full debut to say he could become a claret-and-blue legend.

Bruce believes Hourihane is finally capable of coping with the expectations of playing for the club after struggling following his £2 m move from Barnsley in January.

Davis, signed from non-league Biggleswade Town in 2016 after being released by Stevenage, battered Norwich, with a hand in two goals, a shot against the bar and twice denied in a display that had Villa Park affording him a standing ovation when he was replaced near the end.

“It’s as good a debut as I can remember. Wow. He was terrific,” said Bruce. “He gave two German centre-backs a roasting.

“Aston Villa have always had great number nines. They adore a big striker who plays like an old-fashioned centre-forward, whether you look at Christian Benteke, Peter Withe or Andy Gray. How can I leave him out? I don’t think I can.”