It is 3 October 2023 and Morgan Rogers has discovered himself in an all-too acquainted state of affairs.
The younger attacking midfielder is sitting on the bench on the Riverside Stadium, watching his Middlesbrough team-mates tackle Cardiff Metropolis within the Championship.
Seven video games into the brand new season and Michael Carrick’s Boro facet are winless and struggling, as is Rogers. He does not realize it but, however that is the fifth of 12 consecutive league matches he’ll begin on the bench.
Quick ahead three hundred and sixty five days and Rogers helps Aston Villa beat Bayern Munich 1-0 of their first Champions League residence match in 42 years.
The 22-year-old Englishman has loved a meteoric rise to the highest, but it surely’s been removed from simple.
Watch the total interview with Rogers on on BBC One and on-line from 12:05 GMT on Saturday, 9 November.
A journeyman by 22
At 22 years outdated, Rogers has already performed for seven golf equipment.
After becoming a member of West Brom aged 9 and making his senior debut at 16, Rogers’ expertise attracted the curiosity of Manchester Metropolis.
Mortgage spells adopted with Lincoln Metropolis in League One, then Bournemouth and Blackpool within the Championship, and although none proved overly profitable Rogers believes they helped to form him as a participant.
“It’s difficult however one thing I needed to do. I needed to play and I’d make the identical choices once more,” Rogers tells Soccer Focus.
“It was about getting video games beneath my belt. [They] are all experiences to take, I would not be the individual I’m now if I hadn’t had these experiences.”
‘I could not say no’
Rogers joined Middlesbrough in a £1.5m deal in July 2023 and had a blended begin to the season. Eyebrows had been raised when Aston Villa paid £8m plus add-ons for him simply seven months later.
“It was fairly straightforward once I discovered the crew who needed me,” says Rogers.
“It was robust leaving Middlesbrough as a result of it was a contemporary begin. I felt near the crew and coaches, however when a crew like Villa is available in it’s unattainable to say no. Being a lad from Birmingham it was the proper actuality. I could not say no.”
After taking a number of months to search out his toes, this season Rogers has began all 12 of Villa’s video games within the league and Champions League, together with the Bayern match.
“I’ve all the time had that perception and needed to get to the best degree of soccer,” he says.
“[Playing in the] Champions League – it’s loopy. The sensation does not put on off. To be part of that’s one thing I did not count on to occur so shortly.
“It’s mad and surreal to really feel I’m taking part in in opposition to that degree and calibre of participant. It is cool and thrilling. I really like soccer a lot, so stuff like that also excites me.
“The Bayern sport – stars from one to 11, all of them are superstars and it was a surreal second to assume I’m on the pitch with them.”
‘Totally different to another supervisor’
Unai Emery guiding Villa to a spot within the high 4 was the story of final season, however to Rogers it was no shock.
“The supervisor is so intense. He’s subsequent degree when it comes to little issues regular folks would not see,” says Rogers.
“You see the correlation down the road and why he honed in on it. He does it 100 instances per week – you’re by no means stunned. He’s so demanding and so excessive degree – he brings out the perfect in you. I’ve improved with him massively.
“The arrogance and perception he has given me is huge. Giving that belief and perception means so much – however he’s nonetheless pushing me as nicely.
“He needs me to drive with the ball, being courageous to do it and he permits me to do it. Now it’s about decision-making, little particulars and what I can maintain including. Use your physique, use your power.
“I really like the sport and somebody like that who additionally loves the sport works so nicely for me. He finds a method to enhance gamers in addition to having that drive to win video games, and that’s in all probability how he’s totally different to another supervisor.”
After rising up idolising the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Pogba and Neymar, Rogers is gracing the identical levels they did. However he is not carried out but.
The England Underneath-21 worldwide has seen team-mates make the bounce to the senior facet, a path he intends to comply with.
“Taking part in at main tournaments on your nation is the dream,” he says.
“However in my place there are some world-class gamers. I am not going to be damage if I do not get chosen. It is an ambition for me, however hopefully I can maintain knocking on the door.
“There may be nothing higher than seeing gamers you’ve gotten grown up with achieve this nicely. It’s so refreshing to see and reveals the pathway does imply one thing from the England youth.”
