Aston Villa v Newcastle United: Aston Villa are sweating over the fitness of Morgan Rogers ahead of Saturday’s Premier League opener.
The only game Rogers missed in the league last season was their win over Leicester City in January after he had picked up his fifth booking of the season during their previous outing. Therefore, it came as a major blow to Villa and their preparations for the new season when Rogers was withdrawn prematurely during Villa’s thumping 4-0 win against AS Roma earlier this month.
Goals from Emi Buendia, Donyell Malen, Ollie Watkins and Jacob Ramsey, who has been heavily-linked with a move to St James’ Park in recent days, secured the win for Emery’s side on that day. However, injury to Rogers partially overshadowed what was a big win for the Villains.
Morgan Rogers injury news
Aston Villa’s pre-season preparations concluded last weekend with a double-header against Marseille and Villarreal in France and Spain respectively. Rogers, though, didn’t feature in either of those games.
Initial reports hinted that Rogers hadn’t suffered a serious injury to his ankle against Roma and that scans had shown that the forward had merely twisted his ankle. His omission at the weekend, though, had raised fears that the injury may have been slightly more serious than first anticipated.
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Reports from BirminghamWorld on Wednesday, however, revealed that Rogers had returned to training with the rest of Emery’s squad and that he was being ‘slowly integrated back into the group, stepping up his preparations for the season opener.’ The reports also state that the Villains are ‘hopeful’ of having Rogers available to them at the weekend, although have doubted whether the 23-year-old will be judged fit enough to start against the Magpies.
Villa will certainly be without goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez at the weekend as he serves a one-match ban. The Argentine was sent off in Villa’s final game of last season and will not be eligible for selection this weekend.
Martinez was dismissed after racing out of his goal and denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity in the first-half of their crucial encounter against Manchester United at Old Trafford. That red card would go on to cost Emery’s side a place in the Champions League as they were beaten 2-0 by the Red Devils.
A point in that game would have seen them leapfrog Newcastle United in the Premier League table and secure a fifth-place finish. Rogers, meanwhile, had a goal controversially ruled-out on that day - one that would have put his side ahead in the second half and given them a real opportunity to seal their place in the Champions League.
Ultimately, the Magpies were the beneficiaries, despite their defeat to Everton, and will take part in Europe’s premier club competition for the second time in three seasons. Villa, meanwhile, will compete in the Europa League alongside Nottingham Forest who replaced Crystal Palace following their unsuccessful CAS appeal.
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