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A mere two months in the past when the young forward was standing on the pitch at Sunderland, seeming perplexed while the Villa manager admonished him for missing a through-ball. At that point, with the team failed to win in six, doubts remained whether his displays were an indicator or the reason for the team's broader struggles.

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

On Sunday, in contrast, the touchline reaction was much more joyous. When the in-form star swept in his brace-sealing goal to reinstate his side's advantage, the boss ripped off his jacket, spread his arms and bellowed. The team were on their way to a 10th successive win and having failed to win any of their first six fixtures, find themselves just three points adrift of the leaders Arsenal.

Is This Team Genuine Title Contenders?

That’s a particularly tough question to address. Past precedent, a general sense of Villa, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, they have not been wholly dominant during this run, despite the fact the victories have stacked up.

As per the data, on just two occasions has the team had an expected goals figure notably superior than their opponents. For a side who have strung together a ten-match winning streak, they seem weirdly vulnerable – yet currently the fine lines are swinging for them.

The Rogers Recipe

The current approach seems to be to engage in a shootout with rivals and wait for Rogers to save the day with a couple of crisp finishes. It happened against Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and again against United.

The initial strike came from a superb shot, curled just inside the post from a wide position. For his second was essentially a somewhat messier replica of the opener 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?

Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, Manchester United had a greater number of attempts and more shots on target. The team has secured their last eight victories by a single goal. They have allowed goals in all but one of those matches.

Regression to the mean might be the most significant challenge Villa must confront over the coming weeks. The forward, almost certainly, cannot keep on drilling the football into the top corner forever.

Potential for Growth

Maybe there exists an alternative path in which, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, the level of play rises to match the results. Important figures may yet find their top level.

• Ollie Watkins could start adding to his goal tally.
• The attacking talent may rediscover the player he resembled during his peak.
• The defensive duo will eventually regain fitness, fortifying an occasionally vulnerable backline.

Maybe within that lies the possibility of a genuine bid, yet it seems unlikely cannot keep relying on Morgan Rogers.

Relishing the Unlikely

But then, nobody expected this. Nobody thought Aston Villa would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely back in October, nobody thought the midfielder as the year closed would be at the forefront of a championship pursuit while looking like a crucial player for the national team.

This remarkable period should be enjoyed for the very reason that it appears so improbable. As Rogers stood in front of the North End after the match orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be thoroughly enjoying it. As he deserves to. These spells do not happen often and must be appreciated.