'I must deliver' - Morgan Rogers vows to help guide Aston Villa through injury storm

The 23-year-old England international believes the loss of Boubacar Kamara, John McGinn and Youri Tielemans requires him to take on a leadership role as Unai Emery’s squad continue to battle on three fronts.

Villa have lost Kamara for the season to a knee injury, while McGinn (knee) and Tielemans (ankle) are not likely to return until April.

Yet Rogers is confident Villa’s excellent season won’t be blown off course and he plans to be at the forefront of the fight.

He said: “We’ve lost players who are massive in our group and changing room, as characters and not just players.

“So yeah, people are probably looking at me a bit more and I have to deliver, I have to show.

“Growing up, getting older and playing the kind of games I am playing, I need to take that step up myself and kind of be a leader in the group. 

“I know I am still young and learning off the more experienced players but I can still be a leader on the pitch and show the way, show the young players and other players that I am here to fight, to give my all to win these games when these players are out. 

“There is a bit of responsibility but it is what I enjoy, why I play football.

“Growing up I always wanted to be the best, I always wanted to shine and show the way. It is no different, it is just about winning the games, however that may be.”

Villa, who enter the weekend four points adrift of Premier League leaders Arsenal, host Brentford on Sunday targeting a win to maintain the pressure at the top of the table.

Rogers will be back in his normal position behind the main striker, having played up front during Thursday’s 3-2 win over RB Salzburg after Ollie Watkins went off with a hamstring injury.

New signing Tammy Abraham will start if Watkins is not recovered in time.

Rogers said: “It is difficult (up front). I understand how difficult it is for Ollie now, so I will probably cut him a bit more slack! 

“It is kind of a patience game and a bit different to what I am used to. I have done it a bit before when I was younger, so I kind of know what to do but I am itching to get involved more than I would like. 

“The injuries we have had in the last few weeks have been unlucky. 

“They have all been a bit different and more impact based than what you see, rather than anything physically which is a bit disappointing but it is the way football is, the way the game is. 

“Everyone has the same problem and we all have to be ready to just focus on the games and our bodies as best we can. 

“We are in no different position to anyone else. We have players in there who are ready. That is all that matters. 

“There is a next man-up mentality and we have just got to try and get in there and win the games.”