Aston Villa starlet Morgan Rogers is on a mission to prove himself not just for the Villans, but also for his country. The 23-year-old midfielder has been in scintillating form for Unai Emery's side this season, netting crucial goals and creating chances with his vision and skill.
Rogers' positional flexibility has made him a prized asset for both Villa and England manager Thomas Tuchel. While he can be deployed as a number 10 or a winger, the midfielder has shown he can also hold up the ball and bring others into play as a striker. Rogers believes this versatility is what sets him apart from other players in his position.
"I like to see myself as someone that can do different things on the pitch," Rogers explained in an interview with BBC Sport's Betty Glover. "When asked, I can be a number 10, I can be a winger, I can be a striker. If you ask me to do it and you give me the instructions to do it, I think I've got the capabilities to offer something different to maybe what other people don't have."
Rogers' confidence is well-placed given his recent form for Villa, who are enjoying a surprise Premier League title challenge. The midfielder has been instrumental in helping Villa climb the table, and his goal tally has made him a fan favourite at Villa Park.
The 12-cap attacker scored his first senior goal for England earlier this season, taking his place ahead of Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham in the squad. Tuchel has praised Rogers' ability to link play and create chances with his vision, and it's clear that he sees great potential in the midfielder.
Rogers' rise to prominence has not been without its challenges, however. The midfielder struggled to make an impact at Manchester City before joining Villa on loan from Middlesbrough, but Unai Emery's arrival transformed his game. Rogers credits Emery with helping him to overcome his early-season struggles and develop into the player he is today.
"I'd never experienced anything like that in my career before and [Emery] knew," Rogers said of his time at Villa under Emery. "He wanted to see how I reacted, how I went through it - and it was actually really positive."
With the World Cup on the horizon, Rogers will be looking to continue his form for both club and country. As he prepares to face Croatia, Ghana, and Panama in the group stage of the tournament, the midfielder is confident that he has what it takes to make a difference at the biggest stage of them all.
"It's the pinnacle of football," Rogers said. "Everyone growing up as a kid wants to play in the World Cup... It's so motivational, especially going into this season."
Rogers' positional flexibility has made him a prized asset for both Villa and England manager Thomas Tuchel. While he can be deployed as a number 10 or a winger, the midfielder has shown he can also hold up the ball and bring others into play as a striker. Rogers believes this versatility is what sets him apart from other players in his position.
"I like to see myself as someone that can do different things on the pitch," Rogers explained in an interview with BBC Sport's Betty Glover. "When asked, I can be a number 10, I can be a winger, I can be a striker. If you ask me to do it and you give me the instructions to do it, I think I've got the capabilities to offer something different to maybe what other people don't have."
Rogers' confidence is well-placed given his recent form for Villa, who are enjoying a surprise Premier League title challenge. The midfielder has been instrumental in helping Villa climb the table, and his goal tally has made him a fan favourite at Villa Park.
The 12-cap attacker scored his first senior goal for England earlier this season, taking his place ahead of Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham in the squad. Tuchel has praised Rogers' ability to link play and create chances with his vision, and it's clear that he sees great potential in the midfielder.
Rogers' rise to prominence has not been without its challenges, however. The midfielder struggled to make an impact at Manchester City before joining Villa on loan from Middlesbrough, but Unai Emery's arrival transformed his game. Rogers credits Emery with helping him to overcome his early-season struggles and develop into the player he is today.
"I'd never experienced anything like that in my career before and [Emery] knew," Rogers said of his time at Villa under Emery. "He wanted to see how I reacted, how I went through it - and it was actually really positive."
With the World Cup on the horizon, Rogers will be looking to continue his form for both club and country. As he prepares to face Croatia, Ghana, and Panama in the group stage of the tournament, the midfielder is confident that he has what it takes to make a difference at the biggest stage of them all.
"It's the pinnacle of football," Rogers said. "Everyone growing up as a kid wants to play in the World Cup... It's so motivational, especially going into this season."
25 and still playing for England? I remember when our national team was a joke 
. These kids today are like pros from day one. Morgan Rogers seems like a nice lad, but I'm not sure if he can handle the pressure of the World Cup 
. I mean, he's only played 12 times for England and now he's suddenly expected to be a world-class midfielder? Give the kid some time to develop, ya know? 
And what's with all this " positional flexibility" business? In my day, we just called it being able to run around and make something happen on the pitch 
. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy for the lad, but let's not put too much pressure on him just yet 
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. I mean, he's been playing well for Aston Villa and England too, which is no easy feat. What impresses me most about him is how versatile he is on the pitch - can play as a number 10 or winger, even hold up the ball like a striker 
. And it's great to see him having confidence in his abilities, he's not just bashing in goals for Villa either, but also creating chances and linking play with his vision 
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. That shows the coach sees something special in Rogers too. Now I'm curious to see how he'll do in the World Cup - if England can make it out of the group stage, they might just have a surprise contender 
. I mean, he can play as a number 10, winger, or even striker โ it's like he's got a different skillset altogether! His confidence is well-placed too, considering how much Emery's transformed him into the player he is today 
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. And let's be real, scoring that first senior goal for England was a huge confidence booster! 
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. He's got that versatility on the pitch which is really cool 
. And it's awesome that he's been able to overcome some tough times in the past, like when he was struggling at Manchester City before joining Villa 
. Now, let's just hope Morgan can keep his cool under pressure and make a real impact in the World Cup 
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. He's been a key player in helping Villa climb the Premier League table, and it'll be exciting to see him take on the big stage of the World Cup.
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It seems like Emery's arrival was the only reason he became relevant again... but what if it was just luck? 