Vela stole the headlines on Wednesday with a brace as Mexico stunned Netherlands 3-2 in Amsterdam.
The Real Sociedad forward returned to the national team after a three-and-a-half-year absence as part of a much-changed squad from Herrera.
The charismatic coach picked just 11 players who were in Mexico's World Cup squad in his initial 22-man party.
And Vela showed him that he was right to make drastic changes, which included the axing of Oribe Peralta, combining excellently with Javier Hernandez - Mexico's other scorer - in the win.
"He's an outstanding player," Herrera told the Mexico Football Federation website after the Netherlands win.
"We wanted [him] to show what he has always shown in Spain... and he did for his team.
"That's all we ask. I think he's focused on that - scoring goals, having fun, to play, to win, and earn a spot.
"The player is so important."
Netherlands' defending may have been poor against Mexico but their pressure on the hosts' defenders played a key role.
Mexico will be without George Corral, who has returned home for treatment on a knee injury, but have won four matches in a row, with Bolivia, Honduras and Panama all beaten before Netherlands were stunned.
In stark contrast, 106th-ranked Belarus have lost their last three, although there was little shame in their 3-0 loss in Spain on Saturday.
