Unai Emery has challenged in-form Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers to deliver at least 20 goal contributions this season.
Rogers has shone in his first full campaign at Villa Park – even earning senior England recognition. The versatile forward has four assists already and netted his fifth goal of the season in Saturday’s win over former club Manchester City.
Last term, the 22-year-old notched 20 goal contributions (10 goals and 10 assists) in all competitions. Just four of those came in the Premier League with Villa, though, after he spent the first half of the season in the Championship with Middlesbrough. However, boss Emery says those are the minimum numbers he wants from him this season – despite him now playing in the top flight and Champions League.
He said: “Collectively and individually we will need his numbers. I am very demanding with him. Morgan is very important for us. I need his performance every match we are playing. He is young and his potential is to try to get those numbers in the present or future.
“Of course, my demand of him is to get it. We need players in the attacking third to get double numbers – 10 (goals)-10 (assists), 11-11 hopefully. Morgan, after speaking with me, has the challenge to get it.
“Of course I need as well Leon Bailey, John McGinn, Jacob Ramsey for those numbers. We will need these individually as collectively we can be close to our target if they are getting it. He has a lot of responsibility in my idea and style and I’m trying to push him a lot. I’m very happy with him but I want more from him.”
Villa have not won at Newcastle since 2005 and have conceded NINE in their last two visits there. But Emery, who has no new injury concerns and is likely to again opt for Jhon Duran over Ollie Watkins up front, said: “It’s news to motivate us more. We respect them a lot. We lost their 5-1 last year and the year before we lost 4-0.
“They were favourites at the beginning of the season to be in the top seven. We respect them. We will have to play a complete match – mentally, tactically, individually.
“The last matches they have finished strongly. I think they are in good form.”