Rogers demonstrates significance as Villa remains in contention for the title

Morgan Rogers labeled his manager Unai Emery a «genius,» yet the Aston Villa forward’s exceptional thinking on the field has been pivotal to their finest performance in more than a century.

Villa has increased their winning streak to 10 matches across all tournaments, their most successful run in the top tier since 1914, after a 2-1 victory against Manchester United on Sunday.

Rogers netted both goals for Villa – starting with a stunning shot to kick off the scoring – as the 23-year-old delivered a remarkable performance.

His contributions to the club have already marked him as a potentially vital player in England manager Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup strategy.

Who knows, Morgan’s talent might even motivate Villa to pursue a Premier League title challenge.

Rogers has now tallied 21 goals across all competitions since the commencement of last season.

At 23 years and 148 days, he’s the youngest to reach 20 or more goals for a top-flight side during this timeframe.

Emery described Rogers as Villa’s «protagonist,» highlighting him as a «fighter» who is receiving accolades on the field for his dedication.

«He’s an incredible person and an outstanding player because he has a passion for football,» Emery remarked to BBC Match of the Day.

«Morgan is dedicated. He’s a diligent player and he’s elevating his professional level to a remarkable height.

«He began the season without producing numbers but continually exhibited his determination and started scoring goals.»

Rogers stands as Villa’s leading scorer in the Premier League with seven goals, four of which were scored in his past two games.

Indeed, he became the first Villa player to score two or more goals in consecutive Premier League matches since Dion Dublin in November 1998.

Former Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney stated that Rogers has «shown remarkable growth» over the past month.

«Physically, he’s a robust individual. He dribbles the ball proficiently and is netting some impressive goals,» Rooney commented.

«He is performing exceptionally well. He has clearly established himself as the key player for Aston Villa.»

Former Leeds and England striker Sue Smith mentioned on BBC Radio 5 Live that Rogers’ initial touch is «exceptional,» and when games are decided by small margins, he is «capable of delivering those extraordinary moments» to swing the match.

Ex-Aston Villa and England midfielder Paul Merson concurred, labeling Morgan a «game changer» who can offer the «X factor».

Rogers has been a part of England’s youth squads from the age of 15 up to the under-21s before making his senior debut against Greece in November 2024.

He has earned 12 caps for England, netting his first goal in a 3-0 victory against Wales in October while positioning himself as a competitor for Jude Bellingham in the number 10 position for the Three Lions.

Regarding his hopes for England, Rogers acknowledged that the competition is fierce.

«There’s a vast amount of talent out there, and I’m simply trying to contend. I’m putting forth my maximum effort,» he shared with BBC Match of the Day.

«I just concentrate on improving myself and strive to find my form, to reach my highest potential in every match, and see where that leads me.»

Former England international Rooney remarked that Rogers is «displaying indications of becoming a top player» and merits retaining his place in the squad.

«He’s certainly positioned himself favorably to demonstrate to Thomas Tuchel that he deserves to be in the team,» Rooney, who scored 53 goals in 120 appearances for the Three Lions, noted.

«He’s also featured in the last several games for England, and he has done nothing to lose that position.»

Villa’s recent victory aided their rise to third place in the Premier League – three points adrift of leaders Arsenal and one behind second-place Manchester City.

However, Villa manager Emery stated that «to be a contender in front of them» is not «our reality,» as he played down title discussions and encouraged his players to «remain humble».

«We have faced numerous teams like Arsenal and Manchester City. Certainly, we have triumphed here, but they possess significant tactical advantages with players of a high caliber,» he commented.

«We are not [a] contender. We find ourselves in this position because we are competing remarkably. The players are really concentrated on each match with our objectives and maintaining consistency. However, we are not [a] contender to be there.»