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Rogers Stakes His Claim as England’s World Cup No.10 Despite Foden and Palmer Brilliance

Phil Foden and Cole Palmer both delivered timely reminders of their class over the weekend, finding the net for Manchester City and Chelsea respectively. Yet, as England manager Thomas Tuchel continues to shape his vision ahead of next summer’s World Cup, it was Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers who sent the strongest message.

Villa arrived at the London Stadium riding an eight-game winning streak, but that momentum appeared in danger when they trailed West Ham 2–1 at half-time. Fatigue from a midweek Europa League victory over Basel was evident, and Unai Emery’s side lacked rhythm. The second half, however, belonged entirely to Rogers.

Just five minutes after the restart, the 23-year-old reacted quickest inside the area to turn home Youri Tielemans’ low delivery, restoring parity. As the contest entered its closing stages, Rogers delivered a moment of elite quality—collecting a loose ball some 30 yards out before unleashing a swerving strike that flew beyond Alphonse Areola and sealed a dramatic 3–2 victory.

It was a decisive contribution that underlined Rogers’ growing influence. He registered five of Villa’s seven shots, completed over 90% of his passes in the final third, and recorded more touches inside the opposition box than any of his teammates. The performance prompted former England forward Theo Walcott to declare him a guaranteed starter at the World Cup.

Rogers’ rise has been built on consistency. After scoring eight league goals last season, he already has five in the current campaign, combining creativity with defensive discipline—qualities increasingly valued in Tuchel’s system.

Elsewhere, Foden continues to rediscover his best form. His low, precise finish in City’s win at Crystal Palace marked his 10th goal of the season, with six arriving in his last five matches. Since the start of the 2023–24 campaign, only Kylian Mbappé has scored more goals from outside the box across Europe’s top five leagues. Still, Guardiola noted areas for refinement, with Foden conceding possession 16 times on Sunday.

Palmer, meanwhile, ended an 87-day league drought by scoring in Chelsea’s 2–0 victory over Everton. Despite managing injury setbacks, his calm finish reaffirmed the instinct that brought him 15 league goals last season.

Jude Bellingham remains another elite option, but his recent dip in consistency—and visible frustration during England duty—has raised questions about his immediate role. In contrast, Rogers’ balance, work rate, and composure have positioned him as the frontrunner for England’s No.10 role heading into the World Cup.

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