Aston Villa manager Natalia Arroyo said she has watched the “amazing moment” of Lucia Kendall’s first England goal multiple times in recent days.

Villa midfielder Kendall scored her first senior international goal in the Lionesses’ 2-0 friendly win over Ghana on Tuesday.

Kendall joined Villa in the summer, and her excellent form in the opening months of the Women’s Super League season has seen her emerge as a key player for her club and a promising figure for England’s future.

Arroyo admitted even she has been taken aback by the improvement of the 21-year-old, who was playing in the second tier for Southampton before joining Villa.

“It has been a crazy three or four months for her, she just needed this bigger exposure in the first division,” Arroyo told a news conference on Friday.

“None of us expected this big impact in October and November, but she has the quality on the ball, in tight spaces, with her passes. It’s good to know [England manager] Sarina [Wiegman] is also enjoying having her in the squad.

“We just need to enjoy this moment for her, dealing with more messages and good feedback. She is humble and wants to work, she is getting there and wants to stay there.”

Arroyo jokingly said she was less impressed by Kendall’s knee slide celebration, as she wanted her fully fit for Villa’s trip to Spurs in the WSL on Sunday.

“But she was so in the flow, that is the best thing,” she added.

“I was playing it [the replay] back because of her smile, her eyes starting to cry. It is an amazing moment.”