‘What a player’. It took head coach Slaven Bilic just three words to sum up midfielder Imran Louza after his outstanding cameo as a second-half substitute in the 4-0 win at Stoke on Sunday.

The Moroccan international was one of few players to catch the eye last season, but had his start to this campaign delayed as he recovered from knee surgery.

However, Louza was back with a bang on Sunday and drew strong words of praise from Bilic.

“I won’t say he changed the game as we were winning 1-0 at the time he came on, but the way he influenced other players around him was obvious,” said the head coach.

“Not just the influence he had on our players, but also the way he influenced what the opponents had to do.”

Having been out of action for so long, Louza will not be rushed back into the starting 11, although Bilic admits he can’t wait to have the midfielder fully fit.

“We have to be careful as he didn’t play for five months before Sunday, so we can’t go crazy and expect 90 minutes from him straight away.

“But, to be honest, I can’t wait for him to be completely fit. We aren’t far from that, maybe one or two games more. Once he gets three games into his legs and the work we do on the training pitch – well, what a player.

“I watched him play before in club games, and I watched him play for Morocco. My friend was his national team manager for Morocco so I spoke with him also. Everybody I spoke to said the same about him. He is a very, very good player.”

The change of shape to 4-2-3-1 in Bilic’s first game meant summer signing Mario Gaspar played in a standard right-back position, something he was very accustomed to during his long career in Spain with Villareal.

“Gaspar is a right back,” said Bilic.

“Every right back can also play as a right wing-back or even as a winger. But Gaspar is a right back and he needs time to show us that.

“Everything is new for him, new league, new club. He was at Villareal all his life, since he was seven years old. Until he gets 25 games under his belt we may not see the very best of him. Once he’s familiarised, you could probably even play him as a centre back if you wanted to, but he needs time, and for me Gaspar is a right back.

“People have to understand it takes time to move and settle, especially when the only league you’ve ever known is La Liga, and the only club you’ve ever known is Villareal. He didn’t even move clubs since the age of seven.

“New country, new language, new league, new teammates, maybe time without your family. He needs to be able to be in a position, on and off the pitch, where he feels most comfortable.”

Bilic also had words of praise for striker Keinan Davis, who now fully fit and playing as a lone striker is showing why Watford were so eager to sign him.

“He has that physical presence, that stamina, that power,” said Bilic.

“He helps the wingers because he can allow the whole team to move forward without the risk of losing the ball.

“I’ve said before, the reason I took this job is because of the quality of players I have to work with.”