Morgan Rogers issues 'damage' warning as Marcus Rashford prepares for Aston Villa debut

Rashford joined Villa on loan from Manchester United in the most high-profile move of the transfer window and is primed to make his debut in Sunday’s FA Cup fourth round tie with Tottenham.

The 27-year-old’s arrival has excited Rogers, who looked up to Rashford during his own progression as a young player.

He believes adding the England international will boost a Villa squad still fighting on three fronts this season. 

"His talent and quality, everyone's seen it for a number of years now. To be able to play with him is something I'm thoroughly looking forward to,” Rogers told Sky Sports.

"When I was coming up, he was starting to be the guy in England and he's someone I looked up to as a player in a similar position that you want to try and be one day.

"Hopefully we can cause some damage on the pitch and get Villa where we want to get them."

Villa host Tottenham after a rare midweek without a match in a hectic season where the demands of playing Champions League football has tested the limits of Unai Emery’s resources.

Last Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Wolves was the seventh consecutive time Villa have failed to win their next Premier League match after playing in Europe.

Rogers admits players have found it tough to maintain performance levels but says it is something they must get used to.

"The first time juggling the Champions League with the Premier League has been difficult," he said.

"We found it hard to go again and again and it's something we've got to get used to if we want to achieve what we want and get the club where we want to get to. It's going to be difficult, but we've got numbers in the squad to help us do so.

"It's about finding the right balance and getting that consistency, which we've been lacking at times.

"But the exciting thing is I don't think we've been at our best and we're still there and thereabouts to where we want to be. We're not quite exactly there, but we're not a million miles away and a couple of good results, a couple of good weeks turns in our favour, but we know we've got more to come."

Rogers believes the same applies to his own form, which has been excellent in his first full Premier League season.

The 22-year-old has netted 10 goals in all competitions, including a hat-trick in last month’s Champions League win over Celtic.

But he is refusing to rest on his laurels and says there is no way Emery will let him.

"He's so positive,” said Rogers. “He might not always come across that way in the way he is, but he always wants the best for everyone and the team and ultimately, if you know that and you buy into it, you're going to get results. There's no way you don't.

"He's such a good manager and a perfect person for me to get that next push. The good thing about him is because I've done well, he's not going to stop me. 

“He's probably going to go even harder on me in terms of trying to get me to be better, so I'm looking forward to carrying on working with him for many years to come."