In a weekend of significant Premier League action, while Phil Foden and Cole Palmer were instrumental in Manchester City and Chelsea's respective victories, it was Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers who delivered a performance that underscored his strong claim for the number 10 role within Thomas Tuchel's hypothetical England setup. Villa, appearing fatigued after their Europa League success against Basel, found themselves trailing 2-1 at half-time against a determined West Ham side.

However, the narrative of the match shifted dramatically in the second half, largely due to Rogers' individual brilliance. The 23-year-old midfielder ignited Villa's comeback five minutes after the interval, leveling the score at 2-2. His first goal came from close range, capitalizing on West Ham's failure to clear Youri Tielemans' precise low cross into the penalty area.

Rogers then sealed Aston Villa's impressive ninth consecutive victory across all competitions as the game neared its conclusion. Collecting a loose ball approximately 30 yards from goal, he was afforded the crucial space and time to unleash a powerful, swerving strike that found the top right corner of Alphonse Areola's net. This magnificent effort not only secured the win for Unai Emery's third-placed team but also capped an outstanding all-round display.

The impact of Rogers' performance extended beyond the club level, significantly bolstering his status as a leading contender for England's first-choice number 10 position at next summer's World Cup. This is particularly notable given the formidable competition from world-class talents like Foden, Palmer, and Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham. Former England forward and Match of the Day pundit, Theo Walcott, was unequivocal in his praise, stating, "He scored two fantastic goals and, for me, he is not just going to be in the squad next summer. He is a dead cert to be a starter for England at the World Cup - 100%." Walcott further emphasized Rogers' versatility, noting, "He does everything, he's not just a goal threat." He concluded by asserting that despite the quality of all contenders, "one of them is going to have to miss out on the squad itself - and Rogers, for me, has to start."