Gary Lineker cuts off Alan Shearer after what he said about Aston Villa star
Thomas Tuchel could select three Aston Villa stars when he names his first England starting line-up at Wembley on Friday.
Unai Emery will be keeping a keen eye on whether Ezri Konsa, Morgan Rogers, and Marcus Rashford are selected for the World Cup qualifier with Albania (21 March).
Ollie Watkins would have been named in the squad but for a knock and will have to watch on as his teammates shine on national duty.
Konsa was the only member of the Villa contingent to feature in the European Championships last summer, and the others will be hoping to maintain their place alongside him for the 2026 World Cup.
Alan Shearer makes Rogers’ admission
Rogers has been in sensational form for Villa this season, and Alan Shearer has shared his admiration for the 22-year-old.
Speaking on the Rest is Football (19 March), Shearer, along with co-hosts Micah Richards and Gary Lineker, was asked to pick from a list of three players that they would take to the World Cup.
With the likes of Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, and Jarrod Bowen in the list, Shearer was adamant that the Villans ace would be among his selections.
He said: “Saka, Bellingham, Rogers.
Lineker interrupted him in surprise at the inclusion, saying: “Oh, Rogers ahead of…”
Shearer then cut him off, saying: “What a season. What a player, man.”
Rogers can continue stunning Villa breakthrough with England
The 22-year-old has enjoyed a stunning breakout season at Villa Park, notching seven goals and four assists in 28 appearances.
The emergence saw Rogers earn his first two caps for his country back in the November international break against Greece and Ireland, both from the substitutes’ bench.
| Stats | Rogers |
| Matches | 2 |
| Starts | 0 |
| Minutes played | 39 |
Given his brilliant form at club level since then, it would not be a surprise to see the Villans’ star named in the starting line-up on Friday.
He has not been phased by the addition of Rashford, Donyell Malen or Marco Asensio in the winter transfer window and has continued to thrive, which suggests that he will not be intimidated by the huge names in the national team.
If he continues on his current trajectory, he could become one of the best British players in world football and attract interest from the biggest clubs, which may be hard for Villa to turn down if they fail to secure Champions League football.