Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers handed first England call-up after Unai Emery comments

Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers will join up with Lee Carsley's senior England squad rather than the Under-21s this November after being promoted for Nations League matches against Greece and Republic of Ireland.

The £8m January signing from Middlesbrough has established himself as a key member of Unai Emery's team this season, making 15 Villa appearances in the Premier League and Champions League. During that run he has scored three and assisted three.

A bright start to the campaign prompted dreams of a first senior Three Lions call-up as part of interim manager Lee Carsley's time in charge, though he was kept a level below with the Under-21s.

"What does he gain by playing in the Under-21s, Morgan Rogers? He is ready in case they want to call him for the national team, I can understand,” Emery blasted two months ago. "My response to it, my question is, Morgan Rogers, now he is a reality. The first six months he was here, was OK, but now he is confirming it – not to play in the Under-21s. If they are calling him in the national team, the first team, OK perfect. If not, why?

"What is a player like Morgan Rogers gaining by playing for the Under-21s? I am surprised. I respect that they are not calling him for the first team, but the second team? He is not a player for the second team."

Understanding why a manager would so passionately want the best for his player, at the time Carsley answered that he has such a huge pool to pick from and plenty were already ahead of the 22-year-old.

But now in a fresh England squad update, the Villa manager's wish for Rogers will be granted. After initially only being assigned to the Under-21s again, he has now been called up to the senior squad.

This comes after Trent Alexander-Arnold, Levi Colwill, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Cole Palmer, Aaron Ramsdale, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka have all had to pull out of duties with injuries.

Attacker Jarrod Bowen, defenders Jarrad Branthwaite and Tino Livramento plus goalkeeper James Trafford have also been added to Carsley's squad alongside Rogers in that eight's place.

England are second in their UEFA Nations League league B group with two matches to go. They face group-leaders Greece - who they trail by three points - in Athens on Thursday then return to Wembley to play Republic of Ireland, so Villa fans will be watching eagerly to see whether their No.27 earns his first cap.

If he does, he will be aiming to impress incoming permanent England boss Thomas Tuchel in order to keep his spot.

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