Morgan Rogers: Aston Villa forward in the form of his life and impressing in Unai Emery's squad

A year ago, Morgan Rogers was a backup player for Middlesbrough. Now, just a year later, he's found his stride at Aston Villa and is playing the best football of his career.

In just the past two weeks, he has stepped onto the Champions League stage for the first time against Young Boys, contributed two assists in a thrilling 3-1 comeback victory against Wolves, scored his inaugural Premier League goal of the season at Ipswich, and completed a full 90 minutes in a remarkable European triumph over Bayern Munich.

This season, Rogers has been a regular starter in every Premier League and Champions League game with Unai Emery at the helm. He has established himself as a key figure on the field, much like Emiliano Martinez at one end and Ollie Watkins at the other. Many Aston Villa supporters even argue that he has been the standout performer for the team this season.

Ultimately, Rogers stands out in this Villa squad, largely thanks to his effort both on and off the ball. His impressive physicality and relentless running have earned him a lot of praise this season.

Rogers is one of the top players in the Premier League for his ability to advance the ball over long distances, helping Emery's Villa move further up the field and into more threatening positions.

Rogers truly showcased his talents during an outstanding performance against Arsenal in the second match of the season. Video clips revealed that the usually strong defenders, Thomas Partey and Declan Rice, were caught off guard and ended up on the ground in front of the Villa striker.

"It was like witnessing Jonah Lomu in action, the way he was pushing people aside," remarked Jamie Redknapp that day.

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Rogers' talents were first observed at the age of four when a former player from Birmingham City discovered him, a situation that has a bit of irony to it, given his current status as a star at Villa.

The toddler, along with his father Howar, attended a training session in Halesowen, a town in the Midlands. The session was led by former Birmingham Blues midfielder Paul Tait, who played 140 matches for the club.

"The moment I laid eyes on him, it was clear that this child had something unique," Tait shares with Sky Sports. "He stood out from the crowd, an amazing player who displayed skills that seemed advanced for his age from a very young stage."

At first, he played in his own age group, but it was pointless; he wasn't benefiting at all. We organized small-sided matches to encourage the kids to score, but no one could take the ball away from him.

"I decided to challenge him by having him compete with older kids. By the time he was five or six, I had him playing against 10 or 11-year-olds. It may seem like a foolish idea, but I was curious to see how he would perform. And he absolutely dominated them."

Tait was really impressed and decided to invite Rogers to join the West Brom academy, especially since the Rogers family are passionate Baggies fans. "Although I'm a Birmingham supporter myself, I believed that West Brom would provide better care for their players at that time," Tait explains.

Upon seeing him, they were astonished by his talent. They thought, “Wow, how can we prevent him from joining Villa? They seem to snatch up all the top prospects in the region.”

"However, he remained committed to the idea that joining West Brom would be the most beneficial choice for his growth in football during the early stages of his career."

"He Stood Out Among Man City Players"

Rogers continued with his childhood team, West Brom, making one appearance in the FA Cup in 2019. However, he caught the attention of Manchester City after showcasing his skills during the Baggies' impressive journey to the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup, eventually leading to his move to the club.

Rogers' physicality, build, and skill were notable even in one of the top football academies globally, known for producing a different kind of player.

"I always sensed that he stood out compared to the other players in the Man City setup. He’s a bit of a rebel," remarks Brian Barry-Murphy, who used to coach the Elite Development Squad at City.

"He's definitely unique because he has the ability to grab the ball and sprint at high speed, moving straight ahead and covering a lot of ground."

This is what distinguished him from the other players who had been part of the Manchester City academy since they were little. Those players were mostly skilled in technique, adept at maneuvering in close quarters and executing quick passing sequences.

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Morgan has the talent to catch the ball, change direction, and sprint past defenders, making a real impact on the game. His movement is very effective, and people often overlook how powerful he is for his size.

"He has always been larger than most kids his age, but now he stands out even more among experienced players. His talent for creating and scoring goals has always been impressive."

During his growth at City, he gained valuable experience through a 'loan map' in the EFL. His journey began at Lincoln, where he was coached by Michael Appleton and played alongside Brennan Johnson, a winger on loan from Nottingham Forest. Rogers found the back of the net six times, helping the Imps reach the play-off final, although they ultimately lost to Blackpool at Wembley.

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"We weren't the largest team, and I recall a few matches where we focused on the opposing players and how we should mark them," Appleton shared with Sky Sports.

He simply stated, "Put me on their top player. I’ll handle it." He really meant it. His confidence was incredible.

He genuinely appreciates physical interaction. He enjoys having others close to him, which allows him to utilize his body to maneuver them either inward or outward.

However, not every loan period turned out to be a success. In fact, Lincoln offered the best results for Rogers in terms of performance.

His subsequent step involved a loan to Bournemouth, a team competing for promotion to the Championship. However, during the 2021-22 season, he saw little playing time under coach Scott Parker.

In a recent interview, Rogers revealed that he felt lonely while at the south coast club, which is surprising since coaches usually describe him as an "extroverted person." As a result, his loan spell for the season was unexpectedly ended midway through.

He returned to City until the end of 2022, after which he made another attempt in the Championship with Blackpool to work alongside Appleton, who was let go just two weeks after Rogers arrived. It wasn't until he made a permanent transfer to Middlesbrough that he really started to play at his best, which eventually led to a £15 million transfer to Aston Villa just six months later.

"It's hard to believe what Morgan is accomplishing now. I always had faith that he would succeed, but he faced significant challenges at Bournemouth and Blackpool. He performed decently at Middlesbrough, though," Barry-Murphy explains.

"There was always this sense that he had much more to offer than what we were witnessing. Now, we're finally seeing that potential come to life, which emphasizes the importance of being patient."

"Enhancing Finishing Skills: Room For Growth"

What also makes Rogers notable in Villa's colors is his impressive work without the ball, which complements his fierce determination when he has it.

The young player ranks among the top 10 Premier League athletes for pressing this season and is in the highest percentiles for his off-the-ball effort.

Barry-Murphy states, "He can effectively carry the ball, but he also possesses the talent to be very disruptive and energetic when he doesn't have it. That’s what we're witnessing as he thrives under Unai Emery's guidance now."

In my observation, many of the players in the Man City academy tend to control the ball throughout every match. As a result, there is significant room for improvement in their defensive skills, given the limited practice they get in that aspect.

"He proved that he had the physical ability to thrive in that area. It was just a matter of finding the right coach and the right environment for him to showcase his talents. And now, it's clear to see that happening."

However, there are undoubtedly ways he can enhance his performance. Although his statistics are impressive, the key figures may seem somewhat uninspiring for Rogers. It's worth noting that he has contributed to goals in only two of his eight appearances for Villa this season.

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"I think he has an exceptional talent for getting into key positions more than anyone else, thanks to his physical skills. However, like many young players, I've noticed that his finishing can be a bit uneven," Barry-Murphy comments.

He has the ability to score remarkable goals and can be truly impressive, but his finishing isn’t as reliable as his ability to create opportunities.

"I believe and envision that he’s currently thinking about similar things: setting up opportunities for his teammates while finding himself in positions to score. By focusing on improving his finishing skills, he can enhance his overall performance."

With that in mind, Rogers still has room for growth. Right now, he is a vital member of the England Under-21 team, so it’s likely that he’ll receive a call-up to the senior Three Lions squad soon.

Next, Manchester United will be heading to Villa Park. With Arsenal and Bayern Munich having difficulty dealing with this 22-year-old player, Erik ten Hag might be facing yet another challenge.

Sunday, October 6th at 1:00 PM for a 2:00 PM start.

Catch the live action of Aston Villa taking on Manchester United this Sunday on Sky Sports, starting at 1pm, with the match kicking off at 2pm.