‘ROGERS CAN GIVE US MOR IN EURO BID’

BY

UNAI EMERY is thrilled to have made Morgan Rogers his first ever English signing – and has backed him to boost Aston Villa’s Champions League charge.

Villa paid Middlesbrough an initial £8million to land the 21-year-old (above), who could eventually cost £15m.

The Halesowen-born forward becomes the 165th signing made by Emery in a distinguished managerial career which has seen the 52-year-old oversee transfer spending of over one billion euros.

But, remarkably, he is the first English player ever recruited by the Spaniard.

Villa manager Emery said: “Morgan is a young player, a talented player, who is from here.

“One day last year you asked me, you are not signing English players? Well, here!

“The club was following him, and he played against us with Middlesbrough.

“We analysed him – he’s young, his potential is big, he’s from Birmingham – and we added one player in the squad who can play as a number eight, a number 10 or sometimes as a striker.

“His skills will be important for us.”

Rogers could now make his Premier League bow against Sheffield United today as fifth-placed Villa aim to revive their top-four hopes. And, having been their only piece of major transfer business in January, Emery says Rogers has been signed very much for now as much as the future.

Emery (below) said: “He is ready to play. He was playing a lot of matches for Middlesbrough and producing consistently good performances.

“Now he has to adapt quickly to our ideas, our style and our rules.

“But he is intelligent and he is a good player so I think he is going to be quick to adapt.

“Of course he is in the squad and as he is in the squad he could play.

“He won’t be in the starting 11 but he could get minutes and try to get confidence and a good feeling with the team.

“For now, we need time to understand him, we need time to let him adapt quickly and understand everything.

“But his first days here with us have been very, very important and his reaction to two days of training has made me very happy.”

Emery is looking for a response at Bramall Lane after losing 3-1 against Newcastle in midweek.

The defeat ending Villa’s unbeaten run at home in the Premier League this season.

Emery added: “Sheffield is a very important match for us after the defeat at home to Newcastle. We are really excited and motivated.”