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A mere eight weeks ago when the Villa attacker found himself on the Sunderland turf, looking confused while Unai Emery admonished him for not reading a through-ball. At that point, as Villa failed to win in six, the question was whether Rogers' form were an indicator or a cause of the team's more general malaise.

“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”

In the latest match, however, the sideline response proved to be much more joyous. After Rogers drilled in his second strike to reclaim his side's advantage, the boss tore off his jacket, spread his arms and roared. Villa continued to ten wins in a row and having failed to win any of their first six games, now sit a mere three points off table-toppers Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Serious Challengers?

It remains a particularly tough question to resolve. History, the traditional standing of this institution, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, they have not been wholly dominant this season, while the wins have piled up.

As per Opta, on just two occasions have Villa registered an xG significantly higher than their opponents. For a team which has just won ten consecutive victories, Villa appear strangely fragile – yet at the moment the tight outcomes are swinging for them.

The Rogers Recipe

Their recent policy appears to be to trade blows with the opposition and wait for their talisman to save the day with two clinical strikes. It happened at Leeds, it occurred at West Ham, and once more versus United.

His opener originated from a superb shot, bent right inside the goal frame from a wide position. The follow-up goal was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of his first as he pounced on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.

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

Is It Sustainable?

Reason suggests otherwise. Against United, Manchester United managed a greater number of attempts and more shots on target. They have triumphed in eight consecutive games by just one goal. The defence has been breached in all except one of those matches.

Regression to the mean could be the biggest rival they must confront as the season progresses. Their key man, almost certainly, cannot maintain drilling the ball into the top corner forever.

Potential for Growth

Perhaps there is another reality where, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Key players could still rediscover their best form.

• The centre-forward could start scoring again.
• Jadon Sancho could transform into the force he showed in Germany.
• The injured centre-backs are due to come back from the treatment room, bolstering an occasionally vulnerable backline.

Perhaps there is in that the possibility of a genuine bid, but they surely can continue to depend solely on Morgan Rogers.

Enjoying the Ride

However, this is a surprise. Nobody thought Aston Villa would be in the top three for the holidays. And certainly back in October, no one envisioned the young forward now would be at the forefront of a title charge while establishing himself as a vital player for the national team.

This remarkable period is to be savoured for the very reason that it seems so surreal. As Rogers positioned himself before the home supporters after the match conducting the cheers, he appeared to be loving the experience. Which he fully merits. These runs of form do not happen often and should be relished.