What Michael Carrick texted Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers after Bayern Munich triumph

Michael Carrick has immense pride in seeing Morgan Rogers' career go from strength to strength at Aston Villa

Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick reached out to Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers after the forward featured in the club's historic victory over Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

Unai Emery's claimed a 1-0 win over the German giants at Villa Park after Jhon Duran came off the bench to score yet another winning goal. He was played through by Pau Torres on 79 minutes before lobbing Manuel Neuer to hand Villa successive wins in the opening stage of this season's Champions League.

To a man, Villa were excellent across the pitch as they managed to contain six-time European champions, who had scored 30 goals in their first seven games of the campaign. And it was a particularly special night for Rogers and Jaden Philogene, who were both playing Championship football at the start of the year.

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Rogers joined the club in January for just £8m plus add-ons which could round the deal up to £15m. There were questions asked over Emery's decision to sanction a move for Rogers as he had only spent a matter of months at Boro having left Manchester City in the summer of 2023 following loans at Lincoln, Bournemouth and Blackpool.

But he has thrived under the Spaniard's influence, and Boro boss Carrick has revealed his pride in seeing Rogers develop - and revealed the text message he sent to the 22-year-old after Wednesday's game.

"I actually messaged him last night and said this time last year you were coming on as sub against Cardiff. It’s probably my fault for not starting him!" the Boro boss joked, before adding more seriously, "It’s fantastic to see. We’d have loved to have kept him longer, and I told him that at the time, but the way that he’s kicked on is a credit to him.

"He was a joy to work with and try to help, and he’s gone to a whole new level now. Just watching him last night, he looks so at home and comfortable in his surroundings. He’s not fazed by it and he’s getting the recognition he deserves."

Carrick added: "I’d like it to be with us. I enjoy helping younger players and developing their careers and Morgan probably epitomises that and is the stand-out for that success and going on. He was only with us for six months, but it was an important six months.

"We want to grow the club, push on as a group, but if that gets talented players through, whether they are young or older, it doesn’t really matter. As long as it attracts a better level of player, then fantastic."

The next big accolade as far as Rogers is concerned would seem to be a senior England call-up. Despite his form this season, and his brace for the Under-21s in last month's internationals, interim Three Lions boss Lee Carsley has still not included the forward in his squad for this month's games against Finland and Greece.

Instead, he has once again been named in the Under-21 squad for matches against Ukraine and Azerbaijan, but Carrick is certain his opportunity will soon come.

Carrick said: "If he keeps doing the right things, for sure. I do think that to get in the England squad you have to earn that over time and he’s certainly on track to take that next step as long as he keeps doing the right things. And, at the moment, he’s doing just great."

What have you made of Rogers' season? Have your say HERE

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