Tammy Abraham’s double helped Aston Villa overcome Coventry City to reach the Carabao Cup fourth round according to BBC Sport.
The striker made his point to Unai Emery after the Villa boss was willing to let him leave in the summer.
Abraham rejected loan moves to Ipswich and Everton in the transfer window to fight for his place, with Emery then calling for him to produce more.
Two calm finishes, either side of Ross Barkley’s header, underlined the striker’s desire to prove his worth following the £65m arrival of Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea.
Abraham’s crucial contribution helped ease Villa through as they look to find some momentum after a difficult start to the season, with Emery’s men losing three of their opening four Premier League matches.
They were briefly rattled when the Sky Blues levelled through Victor Torp’s fine free-kick and the hosts pressed but it was ultimately a comfortable win with Coventry’s season already becoming a nightmare.
Struggling Coventry scored their first home goal of the campaign through Torp, but suffered a fifth defeat in their opening six games.
Abraham, one of seven Villa changes to the side that lost to Nottingham Forest on Saturday, had scored just once in his previous 16 appearances – back in April – but got the opener after seven minutes
Torp levelled when he found the top corner from 25 yards and Gustavo Hamer went close with a long-range strike.
But the Sky Blues’ soft centre gifted Villa two more goals.
Coventry have now conceded 15 goals in all competitions this season and followed up Sunday’s 5-0 rout at home to Brighton by allowing an unmarked Barkley to glance in a corner before the break.
John McGinn had earlier gone close, but Abraham sealed victory just before the hour mark when he shrugged off debutant Stephen Mfuni to tap in McGinn’s corner.
Villa face a trip to Bournemouth in round four, with ties taking place during the week commencing 26 October.