Video: Goals and graft get Jordan Rhodes praise from Sheffield Wednesday boss

Rhodes and Adam Reach both netted for the second match running to help Wednesday secure back-to-back league wins. Chris Samba reduced the hosts arrears late on as the Owls held on for their first victory at Villa Park since 2001.

Carvalhal is pleased for Rhodes that the goals are starting to flow.

But he said: “I’m more happy about the way that he is playing. He understands better what we want. He was all the time near Gary Hooper and did the defensive work.

“He did good work. It’s that I really want. After, if he or someone else scores, I will be happy of course.

“Strikers win confidence with the goals.

“But the most important thing was the team won and Jordan did very well.”

It was only Rhodes’ seventh goal since joining the club last February. He initially moved to Hillsborough on loan before completing a £8m switch in the summer.

Carvalhal said: “I remember when Gary Hooper arrived at our club. The first two or three months, it was not good. He hadn’t adapted to what we wanted or our style of play. But look now at the player we have on our hands.

“It is the same with other players. Sometimes, it can be about confidence, especially for strikers. They need goals to get confidence. I am very happy with all of them.”

Wednesday produced a solid, professional performance against a Villa side who are fifth in the rankings after 16 matches.

“We prepared very well for the game and I think my players did fantastic work,” said Carvalhal. “We created chances, scored two goals. We could have scored more goals.

“The results are coming and the confidence is more high so we are happy about that.”

Carvalhal, who expects Ross Wallace (knee) and Daniel Pudil (hamstring) to be available for selection after the international break, was left frustrated over Samba’s late strike.

He said: “I wish we had achieved a clean sheet and I’m not happy about the goal we conceded. But in 98 minutes, the team performed very well in our defensive organisation. It was a mistake but we will try to correct it and try achieve a clean sheet in the next few games.”