'Hold my hands up' - Pundit performs dramatic U-turn on Aston Villa sensation

Aston Villa forward Morgan Rogers has made an impressive start to the season as he continues to progress under Unai Emery

Don Goodman admits he has been proven wrong about Aston Villa's move for Morgan Rogers, having previously questioned if the forward was ready for the top level.

Rogers signed for Villa from Middlesbrough at the end of the January transfer window in a deal worth an initial £8m, potentially rising to £15m in add-ons. He has developed rapidly under Unai Emery, who wanted to sign the youngster after watching him play against Villa in the FA Cup at the Riverside Stadium at the start of the year.

“I was surprised Aston Villa went for him at this time of year and I was surprised by the figure,” Goodman said back in February. “I have no doubt that Morgan Rogers has enormous potential, but that’s all it is at the moment.

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“Based on what I’ve seen from him at Lincoln, Blackpool, Bournemouth and Middlesbrough, there’s nothing that made me think ‘Aston Villa should go and sign Morgan Rogers’, certainly not for £15m. I never really saw it, so it is a surprise to me. He’s gone there early. How much game time he’s going to get I’m unsure. Again, I would question the timing of the move.

But after a sensational rise at Villa in the last eight months or so, Goodman has happily admitted he was wrong about Rogers.

“I’ve mentioned previously that I really wasn’t sure if he was ready for the Premier League, and that Villa appeared to have just invested in potential," Goodman told Villa News. "But I’ll hold my hands up – he’s done way better than I anticipated and played way more than I anticipated.

"He glides across the ground and has the ability to beat his man, which is invaluable in modern football because it opens up spaces. When you have a ball-carrying midfielder that gets past people, things start to happen.”

Rogers is yet to register a goal or an assist this season, but his overall performances have been outstanding. He'll be looking to continue his fine form against Wolves on Saturday (3pm kick-off).

What do you make of Rogers' start to the season? Tell us in the comments below

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