Morgan Rogers is reluctant to define himself by a single role, but the Aston Villa forward’s confidence in his own versatility is increasingly being validated by performances at the highest level.
The 23-year-old has emerged as Villa’s leading scorer this season, playing a central role in their unexpected Premier League title challenge, with Unai Emery’s side sitting third in the table. Villa have also impressed in Europe, winning five of their six Europa League league-phase matches to sit third ahead of Thursday’s trip to Fenerbahce.
Rogers’ form has not gone unnoticed on the international stage. He has been selected ahead of Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham in recent England squads, with head coach Thomas Tuchel viewing the Villa attacker as a valuable tactical option. Regardless of the competition for places ahead of this summer’s World Cup, Rogers believes his adaptability sets him apart.
“I think I’m a bit different to everyone that plays in my position,” Rogers said. “I can be a number 10, a winger or a striker. If you give me the instructions, I feel I can offer something different to what other players might not have.”
That flexibility is expected to make Rogers an important part of Tuchel’s plans at the World Cup in the United States, where England will face Croatia, Ghana and Panama in the group stage. The attacker earned his first senior England goal against Wales in October, a match in which Bellingham was omitted, though Tuchel has since stressed that both players can coexist in the same system.
For Rogers, the prospect of a World Cup remains a powerful motivation, even if he insists it is not a daily fixation. “It’s the pinnacle of football,” he told BBC Sport. “As it gets closer, you feel that excitement and buzz. But my focus is on performing every week for Villa and seeing where that takes me.”
Rogers joined Villa from Middlesbrough in February 2024 in a deal worth £16m, with all performance-related clauses now activated. His spell at the Riverside Stadium lasted less than seven months following a move from Manchester City, where he progressed through the academy system but never made a senior appearance. Earlier loan spells at Lincoln, Bournemouth and Blackpool provided valuable experience but limited exposure at the top level.
Despite his City background, Rogers drew inspiration from players across the city divide. Cristiano Ronaldo’s first spell in the Premier League left a lasting impression, while the physicality and technical quality of midfielders such as Paul Pogba and Yaya Touré have also influenced his development.
Statistically, Rogers’ impact is clear. He has registered the most shots of any Villa player in the Premier League this season (45) and is outperforming his expected goals figure of 4.24 by nearly three goals. However, his campaign did not begin smoothly. Villa failed to win their opening five league matches, and Rogers struggled for form, drawing frustration from sections of the home support during a narrow Champions League win over Bologna in September.
Rogers credits Emery with helping him navigate that difficult period. The Villa manager, he believes, deliberately tested his resilience, a moment that proved pivotal in shaping his season.
“There were moments where I felt it wasn’t my game and it would be easier to come off,” Rogers admitted. “But he wanted to see how I reacted. The conversation we had afterwards changed how I approach things.”
Now a central figure for club and country, Rogers enters the latter stages of the season determined to continue proving his value — not just as a versatile option, but as a decisive presence in Villa’s most ambitious campaign in decades.
