Wolves' early-season struggles don’t fool Morgan Rogers.
Aston Villa ’s Black Country boy won’t use that as a yardstick ahead of this weekend’s west Midlands dust-up. Rogers grew up in Halesowen and was a trainee at West Brom with whom the Molineux men are fierce rivals.
But Wolves hold a frosty relationship too with the Second City clubs. And while Gary O’Neil ’s men might only have picked up one point from their opening four games, Rogers, 22, remembers only too well how the last derby went.
And he says as far as he is concerned, nothing has changed. He said: “We played them last year it was difficult - I know we won - but we know they are a tough team to play. They are awkward.
“They were on top for large parts of the first half. They have got quality, especially in forward areas. And that will be at the forefront of our minds. One hundred per cent it will.
“They still have the same manager and they are going to have the same ideas. It was difficult to get going against them last season. We’re going to expect a feisty game and it’s one we’re going to prepare well for.”
Rogers is attracting rave reviews for Villa this season. Villa boss Unai Emery believes he was due a call-up by Lee Carsley for the senior England side, rather than the Under-21s earlier this month.
And he took his bow in the Champions League earlier this week as Villa paid fitting respect to the memory of former European Cup winner Gary Shaw by beating Young Boys 3-0 in Bern. The only thing missing is a goal or an assist. But Rogers believes that it is just a matter of tie before that changes.
He joked: “At this rate, I’m struggling to hit a barn door! Seriously, I’m just missing a goal or an assist. My confidence is high. I’m going onto the pitch with a real swagger. I’m loving my football. I’m playing the best I’ve ever played. As long as we’re winning, I’m happy. A goal would be nice, I can feel one coming.”
Not that anyone in Emery’s team can ever be sure of their place. The Spaniard is expected to make changes on Saturday for Wolves’ visit following the club’s emotional trip to Switzerland where news of Gary Shaw’s passing cast a shadow over Villa’s first match back in the Champions League for 41 years.
Rogers knows his levels must be maintained. He said: “We knew coming back in, especially over the summer, that we have made some serious additions. They are fighting for our places. They’re knocking on the door.
“We know that if you do get a shirt, you have to make it yours because someone is standing looking over your shoulder. We know we have to have high standards in training. That’s what we are doing, pushing each other. It’s a good group to be around. We all want the same goal.”