Morgan Rogers’ stunning campaign with Aston Villa is set to be rewarded with a place in Thomas Tuchel’s plans for England’s qualifying campaign for the World Cup.
Tuchel will announce his squad on Friday morning to face Latvia and Albania later this month in the first games on the road to America in 2026, with the make-up of his attacking-midfielders a key area for him to assess as he looks to build a winning team.
Rogers, 22, is understood to be firmly in the German coach’s plans after his progress this season when he has starred in the Champions League and received his first England call-up in November during Lee Carsley’s matches in charge.
Tuchel watched Rogers at Villa Park when he scored a hat-trick against Celtic and the former Middlesbrough player has taken his tally for the season to 12 goals in his first full season as a Premier League regular.
He joined Villa during the January window only last season and his £8 million up-front fee has looked excellent business as he has become a key player under Unai Emery.
Rogers was among the raft of younger players Carsley picked during his three international breaks in charge after Gareth Southgate’s reign, with the focus now on whom Tuchel will retain in his bid to make England tournament winners within 18 months.
Tuchel has spoken to players since being appointed and has a shortlist of 55 players that he will choose from ahead of the March fixtures, before playing against Andorra and Senegal in the summer.
Harry Maguire and John Stones, first-choice centre-backs during Southgate’s eight years in charge, are injured, as is Kobbie Mainoo. The squad meet at the start of next week after the weekend round of Premier League matches.
