Regardless of their flying start to life under Rob Edwards – albeit a flying start checked somewhat by a draw away to Preston North End on Saturday – what Middlesbrough would give for another Morgan Rogers.
That reports now claim Aston Villa value their effervescent England international at around £100 million, just a year-and-a-half after Middlesbrough accepted a bid of £8 million, is testament to the quite remarkable development he has undertaken on Unai Emery’s watch.
Boro have a 20 per cent sell-on clause, by the way. One to watch, certainly, in transfer windows to come.
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Though this is a squad, put together impressively by Edwards, sporting director Kieran Scott and the Riverside recruitment staff, with plenty of candidates to follow in Rogers’ footsteps. Hayden Hackney being the most obvious, of course.
Ipswich Town nearly signed Hackney for up to £20 million over the summer. Should Middlesbrough start as they mean to go on – they stay unbeaten thanks to Sontje Hansen’s stoppage-time equaliser at Deepdale – their midfield marvel could command an even larger transfer fee before long.
To quote EFL expert Ali Maxwell, Hayden Hackney remains ‘phenomenal’ in the centre of the park.
But it was a man wearing Preston North End white, rather than Middlesbrough red, who earned comparisons with the former Riverside whizzkid following Saturday’s thrilling 2-2 draw; Lilywhites forward Lewis Dobbin.
Morgan Rogers during Everton v Aston Villa - Premier League
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Ali Maxwell likens Preston’s Lewis Dobbin to former Middlesbrough star Morgan Rogers
Maxwell could not help recall Rogers in his Boro pomp as Dobbin picked up the ball on the shoulder of Aiden Morris before darting towards the visitors’ goal. He breezed past Luke Ayling with a silky-smooth stepover and then fizzed a ferocious shot into the top corner of Sol Brynn’s net.
“It was a fantastic game. And Preston at home at the minute, very impressive,” Maxwell begins, Hansen’s stoppage time heroics denying Paul Heckingbottom another Deepdale scalp to add to Leicester and Ipswich.
“Dobbin with a lovely goal. It was very Morgan Rogers-esque that.
“The really quick, skilful wide player who is now basically playing in a number ten or striker role. Picking it up centrally, doing a dribble and smashing it into the corner.”
On loan at Preston from Aston Villa, ironically enough, is there a reality in which Dobbin returns to Villa Park at the end of the season to replace Rogers, following a mega-money move to a European giant for the ex-Middlesbrough sensation?
This, a stunning first Championship strike on his first start, certainly introduced the Preston fans to a standard Dobbin will be desperate to maintain.
Rob Edwards defends Morgan Whittaker from Middlesbrough criticism
On the other side, Middlesbrough newbie Matt Targett followed up an assist against Sheffield United with a first Boro goal in Lancashire.
And while Targett felt Middlesbrough’s fightback was proof of their never-say-die spirit, Rob Edwards was left with a sourer taste following the jeers which accompanied Morgan Whittaker’s second-half substitution.
On a day when Dobbin really announced himself as a force to be reckoned with in the second tier, Whittaker’s once glowing reputation suffered another blow.
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“Thanks so much for your incredible support. I do have to say one thing though, I don’t want to see that response when I make a substitution,” Edwards said at Deepdale, defending a winger who produced 19 goals and eight assists in the Championship as recently as 2023/24.
“We’re a family and if we want to achieve something and we’re going to progress and move forward, us, the fans, players and staff have to be together. Morgan, from day one of us coming in has been brilliant. He has been so committed. He’s worked so, so hard.
“We have to protect him and love him. I don’t want to see that because I don’t think it helps us. I appreciate the support and absolutely love the fans. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but while we’re in this moment and winning games and everything feels good, we’ll look after our own.
“He loves playing for this football club and is giving everything. I have to stress that, we protect our own and look after our own.”