Morgan Rogers acknowledges he has found it tougher this campaign with opposing sides paying him greater attention.

Aston Villa travel to Sunderland on Sunday seeking their maiden victory of the season - and crucially, their first league goal - having failed to find the net thus far.

Consecutive defeats to Brentford and Crystal Palace came between barren draws against Newcastle United and Everton. Villa were also eliminated from the Carabao Cup on Tuesday evening, succumbing on spot-kicks at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Rogers was instrumental in Villa's march to the Champions League quarter-finals last term, and he excelled in the Premier League as well, as Unai Emery's side were denied a return to the competition on goal difference on the final day.

The beginning of this season, though, has proved wretched for Villa - and Rogers' decline in performance has epitomised that struggle.

"It's been difficult, there's no hiding that," Rogers confessed on Sky Sports. "I might have been a surprise package last year, but now people know about me and they know about my game.

"They try to stop me and now it's about how I can progress to the next level and combat that. Good players still get found out when they don't try to improve and get better.

"It's been difficult. As a team we have struggled a bit, but that's part and parcel of football. It's the Premier League and anyone can beat anyone on a given day.

"We just haven't been good enough in any of the games to win, but that's the beauty of football and the love and hate that comes with it.

"You want to win, so when you don't you're not happy. I don't think there's anything to worry about, but at the same time we know we need to improve.

"At the same time, that's the challenge and it's so motivating as a group because we know we have loads more to give and we haven't shown anyone anything yet."

Morgan Rogers lifts lid on Aston Villa's poor start and makes 'surprise package' admission - The Mirror