“I do not believe any loan spell is truly a bad one,” said Michael Appleton, Rogers’ first loan manager at Lincoln City.
Having previously worked in West Brom’s academy, Appleton knew Rogers was regarded as one of the club’s brightest young talents. He therefore made signing him for League One side Lincoln a priority.
Appleton recalls that Rogers arrived at the age of 18 with a strong personality and was never afraid to contribute during team meetings. After joining soon after lockdown, the forward registered six goals and two assists across 28 appearances.
Appleton particularly remembers an incident during Lincoln’s journey to the play-off final, where they were eventually beaten by Blackpool.
“We faced Portsmouth away, and their team included three or four extremely powerful players,” he said. “While organising our set-piece marking, we were almost out of suitable players to deal with their biggest threats.
“Morgan immediately volunteered and said: ‘Put me on one of them. I will clear the ball out of our penalty area.’
“He was still a teenager experiencing his first loan spell.
“His good form gave him confidence, but he cared just as much about his defensive responsibilities as he did about creating danger at the other end. That moment perfectly reflected his character and qualities as a footballer.”
Rogers later earned a Championship opportunity with Bournemouth, but he made only three starts and scored one goal under Scott Parker as the club won promotion to the Premier League.
He struggled to make a major impression, with former scout Des Taylor, who helped recruit him, describing his development as gradual.
Taylor said: “After watching him at Lincoln, his talent was obvious, although it remained difficult to predict the player he would eventually become. That loan had helped him mature significantly.
“Following his time in Manchester City’s academy, he proved that he could cope with the physical demands of senior football. Unfortunately, we completed the deal late in the transfer window. We considered him a number 10, but Parker’s system rarely used that role.
“It was a challenging period because he received limited playing time and was often used outside his preferred position. He was caught in the middle of a tactical transition. Nobody was really to blame, but the move did not succeed.”
Former Bournemouth colleague Steve Cook said: “The club had the option to buy him permanently, reportedly for £9m, but the transfer never materialised.
“He refused to allow that disappointment to hold him back. Above all, he was a good person with plenty of energy away from the pitch, and I believe that personality has played an important role in his progress.
“His experience shows that a football career does not always follow a simple route. Difficult moments can increase your determination and teach you to value every opportunity. He trained hard, accepted advice, remained eager to improve and was determined to silence his doubters.”
Rogers’ loan ended early, sending him back to academy football, before an injury postponed his next temporary move to Blackpool until the following January.
That Championship move brought Rogers and Appleton together again, but the manager was dismissed just two weeks later and succeeded by Mick McCarthy.
Rogers featured 20 times as both a starter and substitute, scoring one goal as Blackpool dropped into League One after hiring their third manager of the season in April.
“Sadly, he played only once against Watford before I lost my job, which was disappointing for both of us,” Appleton said.
“We had each shown patience while he recovered from the injury he suffered during the summer. Just as we were finally working together again, I had to leave the club.
“He probably did not receive as many minutes as he wanted afterward, but he responded with maturity and remained thoroughly professional.”
Rogers has described that stage of his career as difficult and said he tried to avoid measuring his progress against former teammates who advanced more quickly and received earlier opportunities.
At times, he questioned whether he would succeed at the highest level, but support from his family and friends helped him remain grounded.
Cole Palmer, whom Rogers considers his closest friend in football, moved to Chelsea for £42.5m without requiring a loan spell to establish himself at Manchester City. During the same period, Rogers joined Middlesbrough for only £1m.
Rogers then produced five goals and three assists as Middlesbrough reached the Carabao Cup semi-finals after a six-match run. Those performances attracted Aston Villa, where several coaches who had previously worked with him at West Brom held senior academy positions, and the club made an initial £8m move during the winter transfer window.
By that point, Palmer had already earned a place in the England squad after consistently scoring and creating goals for Chelsea.
“Morgan demonstrates that professional careers rarely progress in a perfectly straight line,” Appleton said.
His journey from being valued as a £9m prospect, to becoming a £1m risk and later a £117m Chelsea recruit, illustrates how even outstanding footballers may have to overcome significant setbacks early in their careers.
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