Unai Emery reveals Aston Villa injury 'risk' in England rant

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery fears Morgan Rogers' latest call-up to the England Under-21 squad could cause him injury because he is in need of a rest.

The Villa forward has started all 10 of the club's Premier League matches and each of the four Champions League fixtures so far this season. He was rested in the Carabao Cup match against Crystal Palace due to fatigue and has played over 1,141 minutes across the 14 appearances he has made.

Only Pau Torres and Youri Tielemans have played more minutes as outfield players than Rogers, while the latter of that duo was allowed to withdraw from international duty with Belgium due to a pain in his knee. Tielemans could still feature for Villa in the Premier League clash against Liverpool on Saturday night, but will rest over the break.

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"You know my opinion on Morgan Rogers," Emery said when asked whether Rogers needs a rest instead of being called-up for the Under-21s. "He is not now a player to go with the Under-21s because he is 22 and they can get other players more efficient to be with the 21s.

"Like now, they are playing friendly matches, so it is not relevant for him to be with them, but I have to accept and respect."

Emery added: "He is one of our best players. His rest is important because he is playing a lot. He is normally running the most of all the players in our squad, 11 km a match and intensity as well.

"He is sometimes tired. I decided to change him at Tottenham because the last time he was with his national team and played with us matches in a row he was finishing so, so tired. For us he is a very important player and sometimes I need to keep him on the team for 90 minutes.

"This is why I talk about friendly matches and Under-21s, if he is really important to go there and play, sacrifice his rest and risk being injured?

"This is really my worry with him. I am trying to protect him a lot. We need him now here more than the national team will need him."

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