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A mere eight weeks in the past that the Villa attacker found himself on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed as the Villa manager admonished him over failing to anticipate a through-ball. At that point, as Villa went six without a win, the question was whether his displays were a sign or the source for the side's more general malaise.

“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”

In the latest match, in contrast, the manager's outburst proved to be far more favourable. When the in-form star curled home his brace-sealing goal to restore Villa's lead, the boss discarded his coat, opened his arms and bellowed. The team were on their way to a tenth straight victory , having failed to win any of their first six fixtures, are somehow a mere three points off pace-setters Arsenal.

Is This Team Legitimate Challengers?

It remains a rather hard proposition to address. History, the perceived status of Villa, suggests not. Moreover, they've rarely been entirely convincing during this run, despite the fact the positive results have accumulated.

According to Opta, twice all season has the team registered an xG notably superior than the opposition. For a team which has just won a ten-match winning streak, they look strangely fragile – yet right now the tight outcomes are falling their way.

The Rogers Recipe

The current approach seems to be to trade blows with rivals before hoping their talisman to bail them out with some clinical strikes. It happened at Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and again against Manchester United.

Rogers' first goal originated from a superb shot, bent precisely inside the post from a wide position. His brace-completing goal was essentially a somewhat messier replica of goal number one as he pounced on a setup by his strike partner.

“Rogers’ right foot is now akin to Robben’s legendary left: forewarned does not mean forearmed, and stopping him is another matter entirely.”

How Long Can This Continue?

Logic says not. Against United, Manchester United registered more shots and more efforts on goal. They have triumphed in eight consecutive games by a single goal. They have allowed goals in all except one of those matches.

A reversion to average may well be the greatest opponent the club have to face as the season progresses. The forward, surely, cannot maintain thrashing the ball past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.

A Case for Belief

Maybe there exists another reality in which, rather than results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs could still return to peak condition.

• Ollie Watkins might resume finding the net regularly.
• The winger could transform into the player he was during his peak.
• The defensive duo are set to return from injury, fortifying a sometimes shaky backline.

This could contain the seeds of a genuine bid, but they surely can continue to depend solely on Morgan Rogers.

Relishing the Unlikely

Yet, this is a surprise. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would sit in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely earlier this season, nobody thought Rogers as the year closed would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title and appearing as a crucial player for the national team.

The current run is to be savoured for the very reason that it appears so improbable. When the match-winner stood in front of the Villa faithful after the match conducting the cheers, he seemed to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. These runs of form are uncommon in the sport and ought to be celebrated.