Morgan Rogers is ‘only getting better’ – but will he win England number 10 battle?

Rogers, like Villa, made a slow start to this Premier League campaign.

The midfielder had only scored once in 11 matches before his double at Elland Road.

But his form has improved dramatically in recent weeks – and has coincided with an uplift in Villa’s results.

Unai Emery’s side have won six of their past seven league matches, with Rogers now having three goals and two assists in that spell.

“He was performing fantastic, even when he wasn’t scoring,” Emery told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“It has always been his task to focus on the gameplan we have. Always he’s playing well. Today it’s better to be scoring goals but to me he’s always the same. His season has been fantastic.

“He is getting progressively better like the team. And today, scoring goals, he was brilliant.”

Of course, there is more to football than just goals or assists, and Rogers offers plenty without those goal contributions.

Emery has also been working hard with Rogers to improve the midfielder’s movement.

“The manager’s always banging on at me to get into the box,” said Rogers.

“That’s where the goals are scored. Sometimes I’m hesitant to go in. I went in and just kind of reacted to the ball [for his first goal].

“I’m lucky I could get a toe on it. I was really happy with that one.”