Rogers ‘only getting better’ – will he win England battle?

“We aren’t acquiring the most talented players,” the statement read. We’re attempting to form a cohesive unit. No one else wins trophies, but only the winners.

After England beat Wales in October, Thomas Tuchel may not have named Morgan Rogers by name, but it was obvious that the Three Lions manager was referring to the Aston Villa midfielder when he said he wouldn’t choose players based on reputation alone.

The 23-year-old has started four of England’s previous five games despite receiving a lot of elite competition.

And Rogers added yet another example of why he is a step ahead of Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, and Jude Bellingham for the Three Lions with two goals in Villa’s win at Leeds on Sunday.

Similar to Villa, Rogers’ Premier League campaign began slowly.

Prior to his double at Elland Road, the midfielder had only scored once in 11 games.

However, his performance has significantly improved in recent weeks, and it has also contributed to Villa’s performance improvement.

In each of their previous seven league games, Unai Emery’s men have won six of those victories, with Rogers now having three goals and two assists.

Emery told BBC Radio 5 Live, “He was fantastic, even when he wasn’t scoring.”

“It has always been his responsibility to concentrate on our game plan.” He always performs well. He’s still the same, in my opinion, despite the fact that today it’s better to be scoring goals. His season has been fantastic.

He is “like the team getting better by the day.” And he was brilliant today, scoring goals.

Without those goal contributions, Rogers provides plenty of opportunities for football, but there is more to it than just goals or assists.

Emery has also been putting in a lot of effort to help Rogers with his movement.

Rogers remarked, “The manager keeps banging on at me to enter the box.”

The goal is scored in that area. I’m hesitant to enter a certain way. For his first goal, I went in and kind of reacted to the ball.

Rogers is more than up against Foden, Bellingham, and Palmer, his main rivals for the England attacking midfield position based on the statistics alone.

The Villa playmaker has 17 goals, one more than Bellingham’s 18, for Real Madrid, compared to Foden’s total since the start of the previous season.

Rogers leads the pack in assists (16), dribbles (12), and touches (307) in the opponent’s box.

Rogers scored his first free kick for Villa on Sunday, a fitting addition to his already impressive resume.

The midfielder scurried up to the ball’s top corner with a superb dipping effort as it reached the edge of the box.

“I’m happy the free kick came in,” I said. Emi [Buendia], I tried to replicate it, but it thankfully ended up in my lap,” Rogers said.

The set-piece coach is “punching on” at me throughout the training session. Not bad either.

Leeds took the lead at Elland Road on Sunday thanks to goalkeeper Emi Martinez’ error, which Lukas Nmecha capitalized on.

But Rogers put a smart finish at the front post in the second half before his superb free-kick winner 15 minutes later.

Danny Murphy, a former England midfielder, claims Rogers’ “individual brilliance” was what won Leeds.

According to Murphy, “With Rogers today, it was just a real high-quality player with two brilliant moments that turned the game on its head.”

The first finish was incredible, on his weak feet, a little flick, when you break down the game down to key points.

“And with the free kick, the bravery and courage of a player who plays for England and has since established himself as a top Premier League player.

If Leeds had had Morgan Rogers as good as they did, would Leeds have won? Yes, there is a reason to say that, but it is the final third, which is where it matters, and we saw it again today.