Former England coach Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink believes that Morgan Rogers can follow in the footsteps of Cole Palmer given his impressive performances at Aston Villa so far this season.
Signed from Championship side Middlesbrough in January last season, Rogers has made himself a mainstay in Unai Emery’s Villa side this season.
The 22-year-old has started all ten Premier League games this season and notched up his third goal of the campaign in a 4-1 defeat to Tottenham last weekend.
Having spent time in the Manchester City academy together, Rogers has seen Palmer go on to light up the league since his move to Chelsea last summer.
Palmer notched up 22 goals and 11 assists last season and already has 12 goal contributions in 10 league games so far this campaign.
Hasselbaink, though, believes that Rogers has got similar characteristics to his former teammate and could well go on to emulate his successes this season.
‘I’m sure that he’s on a lot of football fans radar because he has been exceptional since he joined Aston Villa,’ the former England coach told Lucky Block.
‘He’s a great prospect. I really, really like him.
‘He played with Palmer at Manchester City (in the academy) and he’s following the same path as Palmer in terms of having the belief in his talent to make it in the Premier League by leaving a club of the stature of Manchester City.
‘I love that about Rogers. He left City, went to Middlesborough in The Championship and was incredible at my old club.
‘He earned himself a move to Aston Villa and he has been one of their best players since he joined.
‘The impact that he has had on that club in such a short space of time is fantastic. He’s also been doing it in the Champions League too.’
Rogers and Palmer will have an opportunity to go head-to-head next month when Villa make the trip to Stamford Bridge on December 1.
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