Jude Bellingham (R) and Morgan Rogers (L) have been longtime friends(Image: The FA via Getty Images)

Jude Bellingham acting as "little big brother" to England star after fairytale journey

Real Madrid man Jude Bellingham and Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers have never played with and against each other since they were schoolboys appearing for rival Midlands clubs

by · The Mirror

Morgan Rogers has described Jude Bellingham as his “little big brother” after sharing a “special” week with his schoolboy friend.

Rogers made his first Wembley appearance for England in the win over the Republic of Ireland, having made his debut against Greece in Athens last Thursday. And the Aston Villa midfielder, 22, was especially thrilled to share the experience with Bellingham, having grown up playing football against the Real Madrid star and with him at England junior level.

“He’s been like the little big brother for me this week,” smiled Rogers. “We’ve been together quite a bit. We’ve known each other pretty much most of my life. He’s a friend of mine and to share that with him was a nice moment that he was here. It made it so much easier for me.”

After Rogers played for half an hour in the 3-0 win in Greece, Bellingham posted a picture of the pair sat alongside each other as boys on England junior duty alongside a picture of them after the victory in Athens. “Congrats brother. Come a long way,” wrote Bellingham alongside the snaps.

Rogers laughed: “He was a lot smaller then - he’s grown up a bit since hasn’t he? It was one of our first England games together. We’ve been close literally since then.”

In the Ireland match, Rogers again replaced Anthony Gordon and impressed in his 20-minute cameo - a cameo he will not forget. Rogers went on: “I loved it. The experience is one that I dreamed of growing up and to be able to live in it, it’s a massive achievement for me. I’ve been smiling ear to ear all week and I’m really happy.”

Bellingham posted a photo on social media of him (R) and Rogers (L) in their England youth days together( Image: England/Instagram)

Rogers has been outstanding for Villa this season and was one of a whole host of players who were given a senior opportunity after playing for Lee Carsley’s under-21 team. And Rogers is hoping he has caught the eye of Thomas Tuchel, who starts his new job on January 1, saying: “I felt I was ready to make that step up and show what I’m about. Hopefully I’ve done enough. I’ve got another opportunity when I go back to my club to show what I’m about and hopefully be back here again soon.”

And he would clearly love to be back alongside Bellingham, whose meteoric progress has inspired his old friend. Rogers said: “You look up to someone like that who is from the same area where you’re from. Being my friend, he’s someone you keep a close eye on and you want to do well.

Morgan Rogers is determined to keep producing his top form for Aston Villa( Image: JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

“When you see him do so well, you can’t help but be happy for him. To then get an opportunity to play with him and be around him, you can’t help but just smile and take that in.”

And while he obviously loves being a team-mate of Bellingham’s, he smiles when recalling the times they played against each other in the Midlands, Rogers for West Brom and Bellingham for Birmingham. “All the time, we played each other … West Brom-Blues games,” Rogers said. ‘He never won. Never won."

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