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It was two months in the past when the young forward found himself on the Sunderland turf, looking confused while Unai Emery berated him over not reading a through-ball. At that point, as Villa endured a six-game winless run, the question was if his displays were an indicator or the source for the side's more general malaise.

“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”

On Sunday, however, the manager's outburst proved to be much more joyous. After the England international curled home his second strike to reclaim Villa's lead, the boss ripped off his winter coat, threw his arms wide and bellowed. The Birmingham club marched on to a 10th successive win , despite not winning their initial half-dozen matches, find themselves only three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.

Are They Genuine Title Contenders?

It remains a particularly tough question to answer. The historical record, a general sense of Villa, argues against it. Moreover, they've rarely been completely commanding this season, despite the fact the victories have piled up.

Per the data, twice all season have Villa posted an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than the opposition. For a team who have just won ten consecutive victories, the Villans seem strangely fragile – but currently the margins are falling their way.

The Reliant Strategy

The current approach seems to be to engage in a shootout with the opposition and wait for their talisman to bail them out with some precise efforts. It happened against Leeds, it occurred in London, and it happened against Manchester United.

His opener stemmed from a brilliant finish, bent just inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. The follow-up goal acted as a slight scruffier version of his first as he seized on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.

“Much like Robben with his left, Rogers’ right foot has become a known threat that remains brutally unstoppable, regardless of anticipation.”

How Long Can This Continue?

Logic says not. In the recent win, Manchester United had a greater number of attempts and more shots on target. The team has won each of their last eight by just one goal. They’ve conceded in all except one of those fixtures.

A reversion to average may well be the greatest opponent the club have to face in the near future. The forward, almost certainly, cannot keep on thrashing the ball into the top corner forever.

Reasons for Optimism

Could it be an alternative path in which, rather than results trending towards performances, the level of play rises to match the results. Important figures might still find their top level.

• The main striker could start scoring again.
• The attacking talent could transform into the player he was at Borussia Dortmund.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are due to come back from the treatment room, fortifying a sometimes shaky backline.

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

Enjoying the Ride

Yet, this is a surprise. It seemed improbable Villa would be third at Christmas. And without a doubt back in October, nobody thought Rogers as the year closed would be spearheading a title charge while establishing himself as a crucial player for the national team.

The current run should be enjoyed exactly since it feels so unlikely. As the hero stood in front of the Villa faithful at the final whistle conducting the cheers, he seemed to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.