A couple of fixtures with England broke up a disappointing start to the season for Morgan Rogers at Aston Villa. His head is screwed on improving with the Villans, but he enjoyed his time with the Three Lions and particularly one returning force who has "absolutely everything in his game."
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‘It’s exciting times’
Rogers is closest in the England camp with the players most likely to compete with him for playing time— especially Cole Palmer. However, he is not fretting about his future with the national team.
“I don't really think about it when I'm there. I've been picked for a reason. The manager has an idea for where he wants to play me or who I'm competing with or whatnot. I just let that take its course.”
He feels that the uniqueness of each option in the attack sets them apart for different challenges.
“I think it's about preference, style, the way you fit a team, the opposition you're playing against.”
Still in single digits appearance for the Three Lions, he is eager to earn the right to remain in the plans.
“Maybe I think there's loads of different things. Of course, they're all amazing players and doing so well and probably I'm the last one to join the group as they've been doing it for probably a couple more years longer than me and I've been watching them in awe of how well they're doing.”
The 23-year-old was on top form for his country against Serbia in a 5-0 rout that showed what the group can do if they pull all the pieces together. An audacious flick to assist Noni Madueke was a highlight of the trip to Eastern Europe and Thomas Tuchel kept him on his toes after the final whistle.
“He was saying you've nailed this role now the others have got to compete with you I don't think he'd ever say that he always keep you on your toes that's the kind of manager he is he was very big in this camp on competition and about it's a World Cup year it's not that long to go and it's exciting times.”
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‘How good he is it’s scary’
There are only months until the World Cup, and Rogers is convinced about what his team can do.
“I think the way we went there, I think the way we performed and kind of stamped to our authority on the game and I think it was so the feeling was really good as a team of how we felt on the pitch and how we were so together and so in it and working so hard and demanding so much of each other.”
Apart from Palmer, he has gained a particularly high opinion of one player from the Chelsea squad.
“He has won the Champions League, been with Chelsea for ages, but you don't quite realize when you go and train how he's actually got every he's got absolutely everything in his game.”
Reece James has come the other side from two injury-riddled seasons with his boyhood club. If he blends his added experience with the powerhouse presence of 2021, he brings a different dimension.
“I know he's been unfortunate with injuries and had a tough time the last few years, but the fact you can see him fit and how good he is it's honestly scary if he can get a run of games, he can show the world how good he is because he's got unique talents from a fullback I don't think we've seen before.”
