Aston Villa will likely face exhaustion post their Ajax match, but with games continuing in quick succession, there’s no time for rest.
Following a goalless draw against Dutch giants in the Europa Conference League round of 16 first leg clash on Thursday (7 March), Unai Emery’s squad faces a quick turnaround as they host Tottenham Hotspur in Premier League action on Sunday (10 March) at Villa Park. To maintain the freshness of his squad, the manager is expected to make several changes for the upcoming match.
Despite the need for rotation, one potential risk Emery might consider is keeping faith in January signing Morgan Rogers. The 21-year-old made his full debut for Aston Villa against Ajax, and while the result wasn’t memorable, Rogers delivered an impressive performance. According to Sofascore, during his 63 minutes on the pitch, Rogers completed 83% of his passes, won seven of his 10 duels, successfully executed five of his six dribble attempts, and made one tackle. These statistics suggest that Rogers could be a valuable asset in the upcoming clash against Tottenham.
Is Unai Emery considering beginning the match with Morgan Rogers against Tottenham Hotspur for Aston Villa?
Despite not creating a goal in his four appearances for Aston Villa at 21, Morgan Rogers has an impressive record of seven goals and nine assists this season from his time with Middlesbrough. If given a start against Tottenham by Emery, the versatile attacker has the potential to open his goal-scoring account, especially against a side like Tottenham known for providing opportunities due to Ange Postecoglou’s attacking style. However, considering the significance of the match – a clash between fourth and fifth in the table – Emery may opt for more experienced players, potentially limiting Rogers’ role.
In other Aston Villa news, a recent outstanding 97% performance has rendered one player unsellable, leaving Manchester City star Jack Grealish thoroughly impressed.