MIDDLESBROUGH will have to wait to get a cash bonus from Aston Villa after Morgan Rogers was overlooked for England selection - but Michael Carrick thinks it's only a matter of time until the forward gets senior honours.

And Carrick revealed that he sent a text to Rogers this week after the former Boro forward starred for Aston Villa in their Champions League win over Bayern Munich, reminding the 22-year-old of how far he's come in the last 12 months.

A year ago yesterday Rogers was a late substitute for Boro in a 2-0 Championship victory over Cardiff City and at the time was still finding his feet at the Riverside.

He went on to impress at the end of last year, earning a surprise move to Villa and has since kicked on and established himself as one of the Premier League's brightest attacking talents.

He's a key figure for Villa and played all 90 minutes against Bayern on Wednesday night - and had a text from his former boss waiting for him when he returned to the Villa Park dressing room.

"I actually messaged him and said this time last year you were coming on as sub against Cardiff," said Carrick, before joking: "It's probably my fault for not starting him!

"It’s fantastic to see. We’d have loved to have kept him longer, and I told him that at the time, but the way that he’s kicked on is a credit to him.

"He was a joy to work with and try and help and he’s gone to a whole new level now. Just watching him (against Bayern) he looks so at home and comfortable in them surroundings. He’s not fazed by it and he’s getting the recognition he deserves."

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That recognition hasn't yet stretched to a first senior call-up, with Rogers overlooked by Lee Carsley for this month's games against Greece and Finland.

An England appearance would trigger a further payment from Villa to Boro, and Carrick is backing Rogers to play his way into the senior squad.

"If he keeps doing the right things, for sure," said Boro's boss.

"I do think that to get in the England squad you have to earn that over time and he’s certainly on track to take that next step as long as he keeps doing the right things. And, at the moment, he’s doing just great."

Carrick is proud of how Boro helped Rogers fulfil his vast potential and although he'd have preferred to keep the forward on Teesside, he says the former Manchester City youngster's success can help Boro attract more exciting and hugely talented players in the future.

He said: "I’d like it to be with us (that Rogers is flourishing) but I enjoy helping younger players and developing their careers and Morgan probably epitomises that and is the stand out for that success.

"He was only with us for six months, but it was an important six months.

"We want to grow the club, push on as a group, but if that gets talented players through, whether they are young or older, it doesn’t really matter as long as it attracts a better level of player then fantastic."