Aston Villa: ‘Absolute beast’ Morgan Rogers stuns BBC pundit vs Wolves at Villa Park
Aston Villa may be without their talismanic captain John McGinn thanks to suspension after his red card vs Tottenham but Morgan Rogers’ subsequent emergence is helping soften the blow.
The January arrival from Middlesbrough started just his third Premier League game since signing for Unai Emery’s side against Wolves on 30 March, and his driving run through the midfield in the first half summed up an excellent early showing.
Nominally brought into the line up on the left he was the most eye-catching right in the central areas where Villa would otherwise be feeling the absence of McGinn.
BBC Sport pundit Paul Robinson was highly impressed as the 21-year-old picked the ball up in his own half after 20 minutes and carried it up the centre of the pitch with visiting players hanging off him.
Pablo Sarabia was ultimately booked for dragging the youngster back but he was only the last of a number of Wolves men who couldn’t halt Rogers by conventional means, with Rayan Ait-Nouri among those shrugged off.
Robinson said live on BBC Radio 5 Live, via the BBC Sport liveblog (5.50pm): “Morgan Rogers looked like an absolute beast running through the midfield. Anyone of two or three players could have brought him down, but it was fantastic play from him.”
Aston Villa arrival from Middlesbrough stuns in absence of John McGinn
He looked like repeating the feat in the 33rd minute as he drove towards the Wolves box in similar fashion before a hefty challenge halted him, in what was a very encouraging performance still early in the England under-21 international’s Aston Villa career.
The numbers backed up his quality on the ball as, according to stats from SofaScore, Rogers was successful with all five of his attempted dribbles (100%) while coming out on top in eight of his 12 ground duels (66.7%).
He only had 18 total touches through the first 45 minutes, completing five of seven passes (71.4%) but it was carrying the ball in possession where he really shone, also drawing two fouls, but on early evidence he could do some damage if he is more involved.
Villa had been under pressure early, with Ait-Nouri kept out by a point-blank Emi Martinez save to preserve the clean sheet, and Rogers’ work helped turn the tide before Moussa Diaby then smashed a wonderful opener home in the 36th minute.
The manner of his contributions, looking like a man against boys despite his age, was arguably as impressive as the effect it had on the play itself, so they were very encouraging signs from the youngster.
In other Aston Villa news, Fabrizio Romano has shared some major contract news from Villa Park.
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