Morgan Rogers praised Jamal Jimoh-Aloba after the youngster won the game for Aston Villa against RB Salzburg on Thursday night
Jamal Jimoh-Aloba of Aston Villa celebrates after scoring against RB Salzburg(Image: Getty Images)
Morgan Rogers wasn’t surprised to see Jamal Jimoh-Aloba showcasing his quality on the big stage and admits he has “taken a shine” to the teenager.
Having come off the bench just after the hour mark against RB Salzburg, Jimoh-Aloba popped up with the winning goal in the 88th minute, turning in Kadan Young’s cross from the right.
It was the 19-year-old’s sixth professional appearance, and he capped it with a moment that will live with him forever.
Follow our Facebook page! Get more news and AVFC analysis here
Jimoh-Aloba’s winner completed the comeback for Villa after they had fallen two goals behind to Salzburg, before Rogers and Tyrone Mings levelled the game with 15 minutes to play.
Rogers, who won the PFA Young Player of the Year award in 2025 and is himself still only 23, spoke highly of Jimoh-Aloba after Villa’s victory.
“It’s a really nice moment for him, he works hard in training and gives his all,” Rogers told BBC Sport.
“He is probably a bit shy and nervous more than I’d like but he shows his quality in training. We know he’s got the ability, it’s about applying himself.
Content cannot be displayed without consent
“I knew he was locked in and engaged and that’s what we want from him. Sometimes he can get a bit disengaged, that’s where you can probably lose it.
“As a young player I was exactly the same, when you get older you are focused more. He was focused the moment he came on and it was a really nice moment for him.
“I’ve taken a shine to him, he’s a really nice kid and we like when we train with him and want him to do well.”
There is talk that Jimoh-Aloba could return to West Brom on loan before Monday’s deadline, but he is an attacker with a big future ahead of him.
He also scored for Villa in last season’s FA Youth Cup final against Manchester City.
The latest Villa headlines sent straight to your phone
Join our Aston Villa WhatsApp group and get the latest breaking news, interviews and opinion sent straight to your phone, plus matchday team news and live updates of all the action. Just click on this link and select ‘Join Community’ to get started. The only proviso is that you must have WhatsApp on your phone to participate. It’s a free service. No one will be able to see your personal information and you will only receive messages from our Villa writers.
We will not spam your WhatsApp feed with constant messages, but you will receive updates from us daily with the latest Villa news. If you later decide to opt out, just go to the name at the top of your screen and click ‘Exit Group’. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. Click here to read our Privacy Notice