Michael Carrick will face former Middlesbrough player Morgan Rogers when Aston Villa take on Manchester United at Old Trafford
Michael Carrick and Morgan Rogers during their time at Middlesbrough
Michael Carrick and Morgan Rogers during their time at Middlesbrough(Image: Getty Images)
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Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick admits he was unsure how well Morgan Rogers would do after his transfer to Aston Villa.
Carrick was Middlesbrough boss when Villa paid £8million to sign a player who had spent just half a season at the Riverside Stadium.
However, Unai Emery had seen something in the attacker, something he hadn’t been able to show during his time at Manchester City and the 23-year-old has blossomed under the Spaniard.
Since then he has had 51 goal involvements, including 27 goals, in his 111 matches in Claret and Blue and after a difficult opening to this season he has started every game in the Premier League and six of nine Europa League fixtures.
He has also put pressure on Jude Bellingham in Thomas Tuchel’s England team and is one of the most highly rated players in the league.
Former boss Carrick, admits he is not particularly looking forward to facing him at Old Trafford on Sunday.
"First of all, it is fantastic for him to see Morgan going on to do so well and for a good period of time," Carrick said.
"He had the initial signing in the January, and I wasn’t really sure how it was going to go, it was a big step for him, he hadn’t played for an awful long time at Middlesbrough so I felt he could have done with a little bit more.
"But as soon as he has gone to Aston Villa, he took huge steps and became a major, major part of their team and part of the England team so that is how well he has done.
"You could always see what he was possibly going to be capable of and the potential in terms of his attributes, the way he carries the ball, he can play off his left foot, play off his right foot, create and score goals and really good athletically.
“So there were a lot of things there when we took him to start with but to see him go on and have such an impact would be probably more than I would have expected or probably more than Morgan himself would have expected.
"It is great to see though. I enjoy seeing him do so well. To come up against him is a different story. Nevertheless, he is a good person, great to work with so I am delighted he has done so well."
Carrick was slightly less effusive when he was asked about Villa loan player Jadon Sancho, who is not eligible to play against his parent club.
Sancho has not played for United since August 2024 and Carrick said: “You can never be surprised with anything in football. It’s one of those things, you come to a club sometimes it works sometimes it doesn’t’ quite work – that’s natural it happens at every club.
“Jadon’s got talent, that’s why he came to the club to start with and he has had some really good moments. For whatever reason – I don’t know I have not been here for a period of time – he has then found himself at Aston Villa.
“He had a good spell at Dortmund as well, a Champions League final so he has certainly got talent. He is playing a lot this season so credit to him for that.
“He is having an impact and playing a lot of games, what happens next and moving forward we will just have to wait and see.”