Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers has lauded Marcus Rashford for his contributions since joining on loan from Manchester United - and insists his England team-mate is helping the rest of Villa's attack to fly under the radar. The pair are in Thomas Tuchel's first England squad this international break having shone together for the Villans in recent weeks. Rogers said: "When we got into games, no one is worrying about me. It is nice playing with him because everyone is scared of everything he can do.
"We are completely different, he makes a lot of direct runs, one v one, wants to take people on and the pace in behind, it is a problem and completely different to what I do so I think it works well. I have played with him a number of times now and I can give him space if I come short and we can work well together. It is really nice and for Villa to attract players of that level shows the level we are going in as well because everyone knows the level of Marcus and what he can get to and it is just about finding his form and his confidence again and he is starting to get that."
Rashford's infectious energy and confidence are influencing not just the team but the fans as well, according to Rogers, who noted: "I can see it straight away, when he is training, when he is playing, the confidence he has got, the things he is trying and he is a joy to play with and a joy to work with.
"He has set the fans alight and got the crowd going and he gives you that real energy, that real buzz, that's the kind of player he is and when he is showing all his capabilities and you know he is on it, that's a real problem."
Rogers is meanwhile eager for the opportunity to face another England star - Jude Bellingham - at Villa Park in the Champions League. Villa could face Real Madrid in the semi-finals if they find a way past Liverpool's conquerors PSG in the last eight.
The pair's friendship is rooted in local rivalry, with Bellingham's Birmingham City background and Rogers' history at West Brom setting the stage for competitive banter.
Rogers is relishing their time together with England but eagerly anticipates the possibility of facing off against Bellingham again if both their teams clear their quarter-final clashes.
He said: "I don't think he'd enjoy going to Villa Park much... He's played everywhere but he's never played at Villa Park. Yeah that would be good. We've obviously got a tie, he's got a tie, that we've got to get through first.
"PSG are one of the best teams I've seen this season, they blew everyone away against Liverpool, so that will be some game, some tie. I'm looking forward to it. They're the games you want to play in as a footballer."
The midfielders share a history dating back to their under-15 days with England, where Bellingham was already playing up an age group, and Rogers recollects a memorable youth tournament clash between West Brom and Birmingham that remains a talking point.
Rogers fondly recalls: "I remember there was a floodlit tournament when we were Under-15s, I think. We had Birmingham in our group so we played them home and away. I remember that one vividly, I always bring it up to him. He's never beaten me!
"He's always had a mouth on him! But we've had a really good relationship and to be with him now is really nice.
"Our careers and paths have been completely different but always been in contact along the journey which is really nice and always been not far from each other where we grew up. It makes it a bit sweeter. It's really nice."