- EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey
TBR Football understands that Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers has moved into contention to be called up for England for this summer’s European Championship.
Rogers only joined Villa in January from Middlesbrough – who had snapped him up from Manchester City last summer.
The 21-year-old has started just eight Premier League games, but he has played a huge part in helping Villa’s make the top-four which they are now firmly on course for.
Now TBR is told by sources that England boss Gareth Southgate and his coaches have been hugely impressed with Rogers and are now considering him for their squad that they will take to Germany.
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26-man squad could benefit Morgan Rogers
UEFA have confirmed that squads for the Euros will now be 26 rather than 23 and those extra options mean more opportunities have now arisen and Rogers could now be one of the shock names to make it to Germany.
Southgate is due to name a training squad ahead of the Euros on May 21 and it is expected that squad will be slightly bigger before they cut it down to the final 26-man selection for the tournament itself.
England’s official final squad will be announced on June 8th – before which they face friendlies against Bosnia on June 3rd and Iceland on June 6th.
READ MORE: Aston Villa manager Unai Emery closing in on signing £137k-a-week La Liga winner this summer
Morgan Rogers would add something different to England
Rogers, who joined Villa in a £16m deal, would add a completely different dynamic to Southgate’s forward line.
The 6ft 4in wide player has registered four goal involvements in eight Premier League starts for the Villans but it’s the defensive side of his game where he really impresses.
As per FBref, the 2002-born ranks in the top 19 per cent for tackles compared to his positional peers across the leagues in England and abroad.
Further, he also sits in the top 22 per cent for clearances, so it’s pretty evident that he’s a willing runner that tracks back and those traits could prove useful for Southgate, particularly in knockout games if and when a lead needs to be seen out.
Unai Emery has waxed lyrical about Rogers and praised his football IQ.
“He is intelligent. He understands football. When we analysed and we signed him, it was because we analysed his ability to adapt quickly to our structure,” Emery said.
Rogers has a lot to offer The Three Lions and if he continues his rich vein of form, there’s every chance he could be on the plane to Germany.