Rogers ready to prove his worth for Aston Villa & England in 2026

Morgan Rogers does not want to be defined by a single role. When he says, “Unique. I can be anything,” it is less a boast than a reflection of how he sees himself as a footballer, someone capable of adapting to whatever is asked of him on the pitch.

That self-belief has been a defining feature of a season in which the Aston Villa forward has emerged as one of the Premier League’s standout attacking players.

At 23, Rogers is Villa’s top scorer as Unai Emery’s side continue a surprise title push, sitting third in the table. Their European form has been just as impressive, with five wins from six in the Europa League ahead of a trip to Fenerbahce.

His performances have not gone unnoticed at international level either, with England head coach Thomas Tuchel selecting him ahead of Jude Bellingham, a clear indication of the regard in which he is held.

Rogers is comfortable with the competition that comes with that recognition and believes his versatility gives him an advantage. “I think I’m a bit different to everyone that plays in my position. I like to see myself as someone that can do different things on the pitch,” he said. “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, which is a nice thing.”

With the World Cup approaching and England drawn alongside Croatia, Ghana and Panama, Rogers is expected to be part of Tuchel’s squad.

He scored his first senior international goal against Wales in October, a match in which Bellingham was absent, although Tuchel has since stressed that the two can operate in the same side. For Rogers, the focus remains firmly on the present rather than the destination at the end of the season.

“It’s the pinnacle of football. Everyone growing up as a kid wants to play in the World Cup,” he said. “They want to represent their country and being in the pool of players that could potentially do that is exciting.

“It’s so motivational, especially going into this season. I wouldn’t say it’s at the forefront of my mind. I’m thinking about it, you can’t help but know that at the end of the season England are competing in the World Cup to try and win it. You get that excitement, that buzz, as it gets closer. I just want to focus on my performances every week and then see where it takes me.”

The Rise of Rogers

Rogers’ rise has not been without setbacks. He joined Villa from Middlesbrough in February 2024 for an initial fee of £16m and, despite flashes of quality, struggled early in the campaign.

Villa failed to win their opening five league games and Rogers was even jeered by sections of the home support during a narrow win over Bologna in September. In hindsight, he credits Emery with helping him navigate that period.

“Looking back at it now, I can see how he’s a genius,” Rogers said. “There were probably times in that game where I was thinking, ‘it’s not my game, I’m not playing well, it’s not working for me, maybe it’s just easier for me to see my number go up and walk off’.

“I’d never experienced anything like that in my career before and he knew. He wanted to see how I reacted, how I went through it, and it was actually really positive. I spoke to him the day after and he explained how proud he was of how I kept going and never gave up. That was a massive moment for me and changed how I approach everything.”