Michael Carrick named him on the bench a year ago for Boro against Cardiff

After initially taking a few weeks to find his feet at the Riverside, the 22-year-old attacker’s form soon picked up and he left the North East club after just six months.

Aston Villa snapped him up in February in a deal that could rise to £15m and he instantly shone on the Premier League stage to help Unai Emery’s side finish fourth.

Now Rogers is starring in the Champions League and was one of Villa’s best performers in Wednesday’s 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich.

It marked a huge 12 month turnaround for the England U21 international as exactly one year to the day earlier he only appeared for the final three minutes of a 2-0 Boro win.

After watching his display against Bayern, his former Boro manager Carrick said: “I actually messaged him and said this time last year you were coming on as sub against Cardiff. It’s probably my fault [he left] 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 on Wednesday, he looks so at home and comfortable in them surroundings.

“He’s not fazed by it and he’s getting the recognition he deserves.”

As part of the deal that took him to Villa, Boro would receive a further payment if Rogers makes an England appearance.

And Carrick backed him to achieve that, saying: “If he keeps doing the right things, for sure.