Unai Emery addresses Morgan Rogers form and sends message to Aston Villa forward

Unai Emery doesn't believe fatigue is behind Morgan Rogers' slow start to the campaign and remains convinced the Aston Villa attacker will soon return to his peak form.

Rogers displayed glimpses of his talent while on England duty earlier this month but has failed to match the displays he produced last term for his club.

The forward and strike partner Ollie Watkins contributed to 42 of Villa's 58 league strikes last season, with both players facing criticism following the club's disappointing beginning to this campaign.

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Emery's squad are yet to find the net in the Premier League after four fixtures.

This marks Rogers' second complete season at Villa following his switch from Middlesbrough in a transfer valued at merely £15 million in January 2024. He secured eight starts during the latter half of the 2023/24 season, assisting Villa in clinching a top four spot.

Last campaign, he played a crucial part in Villa's Champions League journey, which concluded in the quarter-finals against eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain. Rogers managed seven goal contributions, including scoring a hat-trick against Celtic.

"He was playing two years ago in the Championship," Emery reminded the press ahead of Villa's clash against Sunderland on Sunday.

"He started here playing in the Premier League and in Europe, also the Champions League. It is, for him, how he is reaching his demands. To keep it is the next challenge.

"He is performing under the level he had, and he is, as well, trying to recover level - but getting balance."

Rogers has featured in 67 matches for club and country since the beginning of last season, completing the full 90 minutes on 44 occasions across all competitions.

However, Emery has dismissed suggestions that tiredness is behind Rogers' sluggish start to the campaign.

"Fatigue in September? That is difficult! He has played lots of matches, but for him, and other players as well, we played 54 matches last season. Adding the matches of the national team, maybe he played 60 or 65 matches," Emery said.

"We have to be aware how we manage every player for the season, but for now, he is so motivated. As well, he wants to start performing better with us. He is showing us each training session.

"He is really anxious to recover his level. I am telling him to get balance. Accept how we are improving. We are not getting the same level in every match, but be confident you will get the same level again."

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