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A mere 60 days in the past that the young forward found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, looking confused as Unai Emery scolded him over missing a penetrating pass. At that point, as the club endured a six-game winless run, doubts remained whether Rogers' form were a sign or a cause 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, however, the manager's outburst proved to be decidedly more positive. After the in-form star curled home his second to reinstate Villa's lead, the Spanish tactician discarded his jacket, threw his arms wide and shouted in triumph. The team continued to a tenth straight victory and having failed to win their initial half-dozen games, now sit just three points adrift of pace-setters Arsenal.

Is This Team Serious Challengers?

It remains an exceptionally difficult proposition to resolve. History, a general sense of Villa, indicates otherwise. Additionally, they have not been completely commanding during this run, even as the wins have stacked up.

As per Opta, on just two occasions have Villa posted an xG notably superior than their opponents. For a team who have strung together 10 in a row, the Villans seem weirdly vulnerable – yet currently the margins are falling their way.

The Rogers Recipe

Their recent policy seems to be to engage in a shootout with an opponent and then rely on their star man to save the day with some crisp finishes. It happened against Leeds, it happened at West Ham, and it happened versus the Red Devils.

Rogers' first goal originated from a brilliant finish, bent precisely inside the post from a wide position. For his second acted as a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one as he pounced on a setup by his strike partner.

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

Can It Last?

Logic says not. Against United, the opposition registered a greater number of attempts and more shots on target. They have won each of their last eight by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those fixtures.

A statistical correction may well be the biggest rival the club will encounter in the near future. Rogers, surely, will not continue to drilling his shots into the top corner week in, week out.

Potential for Growth

Could it be another reality in which, instead of luck running out, the level of play rises to match the results. Key players may yet return to peak condition.

• Ollie Watkins might resume adding to his goal tally.
• The winger might become the player he resembled during his peak.
• The defensive duo are due to come back from the treatment room, strengthening a sometimes shaky defensive unit.

Maybe within that lies the seeds for a sustained push, but they surely cannot keep relying on Morgan Rogers.

Savoring the Moment

But then, this is a surprise. Nobody thought Aston Villa would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And without a doubt two months ago, nobody thought Rogers by the end of the year would be spearheading a title charge while looking like a vital player for the national team.

This winning streak should be enjoyed precisely because it feels so unlikely. When the hero positioned himself before the North End when the game ended leading the celebrations, it was clear to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. These runs of form are rare in football and must be appreciated.