Rogers hails Bellingham for positive impact after England call-up

Aston Villa’s rising star, Morgan Rogers, has spoken about how having Jude Bellingham in the England squad made his transition into international football much easier.

Rogers, who received his first call-up to the England senior team in November 2024, credited Bellingham’s presence as a major factor in helping him feel comfortable.

The two players share roots in Birmingham, and their pre-existing friendship provided a sense of familiarity as Rogers adjusted to life in the national team setup.

His impressive performances for Aston Villa earned him the opportunity, with then-interim England manager Lee Carsley selecting him for the squad.

Both Rogers and Bellingham are considered among England’s brightest young talents, having featured in Thomas Tuchel’s first matches in charge of the national team.

The transition to international football can be daunting, but for Rogers, having Bellingham around made the experience much more manageable.

Reflecting on his integration into the squad, Rogers said to GOAL:  “It might not be as daunting as you think, even though you might think it is when you go in there.

First @England start. Great way to start the new era!🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 pic.twitter.com/LInq1CCeeJ

— Morgan Rogers (@morgz_10) March 24, 2025

“It’s usually never that bad. So yeah, it was really nice [to be involved with England]. Obviously the one that was really nice [in helping Rogers settle in] was probably Jude being there. Obviously playing against him and what not, and playing with him at earlier age groups.

“It’s nice to have someone that I already knew, someone that you can kind of bounce off, that you know already and that you can just be comfortable with.

“So yeah, that’s nice to have. But to be fair, because the group’s so young, you know a lot of them. Or even if you don’t know them personally, you played against them. So it’s easy sentence starters and an easy way to talk to people and to get to know them.”

As the season progresses, both Rogers and Bellingham will be aiming to play key roles for their respective clubs. Rogers, who has become a key player for Aston Villa under Unai Emery, will be hoping to make an impact as the team pushes for success in the FA Cup and Champions League.

Meanwhile, Bellingham continues to shine for Real Madrid, with Carlo Ancelotti’s side in contention for a La Liga, Champions League, and Copa del Rey treble.

With both players making their mark at club and international level, the future looks bright for these Birmingham-born stars.