By Mandeep Sanghera

Edu (left) says the praise heaped on striker Villa is deserved

It would be easy to fall for the hype surrounding one of football's hottest properties - Valencia striker David Villa.

But, when the rising star of Spanish football earns the plaudits of Edu, who has played with some of Brazil's best for his country and France's finest for his former club Arsenal, you have to take it seriously.

Edu has seen Villa at close quarters since he moved to the Mestalla from Arsenal in May 2005 and is in no doubt about the 25-year-old's ability.

"He is very good," said Edu, who is currently coming back from a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a second cruciate knee injury.

"I've been with him for two seasons now. I follow him and train with him and I can see he has something different."

Villa will be aiming to enhance his growing fame when he lines up against Chelsea in the Champions League quarter-final, first leg on Wednesday, but Edu is already convinced of his quality.

I don't think he would have any problem to play in the Premiership Edu on Villa

Brazil midfielder Edu has been on the international stage with Samba superstars such as Ronaldo and Ronaldinho.

He helped Arsenal to two Premiership titles and three FA Cup victories in his time at the London club as Thierry Henry developed into one of the most lethal marksmen in European football.

Villa appears to be on the same path as he earns plaudits almost as regularly as he bangs in the goals at club and international level.

It is no surprise, then, that he has been linked with a move to both Chelsea and Liverpool, and Edu has no doubts that Villa would prove a success in the top-flight.

"He is quicker than most, he can use both feet and he is intelligent," added Edu. "He is as good as all the comments people have made about him.

Villa is developing a habit of scoring crucial goals

"I think he could play in England because he is an experienced guy. He has played for the international team for a long time."

"He has shown everybody in the important games how good he is so I don't think he would have any problem to play in the Premiership."

Indeed, if a striker is judged on his ability to score when it matters most then Villa has certainly shown signs of having that vital talent.

A player whose consistency of goals saw he rise from lowly Sporting de Gijon through to Real Zaragoza and now Valencia, he scored Zaragoza's winner against real Madrid in the Copa del Rey in 2004.

More recently, he scored the winner in Spain's 2-1 win over Denmark in a Euro 2008 qualifier they desperately needed to win to keep within touching distance of their Group F rivals.

Villa is affable enough as he shrugs off any speculation about his future but there is also the hint of the ice-cool predator that Chelsea should fear.

"It's a compliment that they're interested but all the news about signings happens in summer and it wouldn't be right to think about it now.

"At the moment I'm only thinking about eliminating Chelsea and continuing to win league games."