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It was 60 days ago that the young forward stood on the Sunderland turf, appearing bewildered while the Villa manager berated him for not reading a penetrating pass. Back then, as Villa went six without a win, it wasn't clear whether his performances were an indicator or the source for the side's broader struggles.

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

On Sunday, though, the sideline response was far more favourable. As Rogers curled home his second strike to reclaim the lead for Villa, the boss discarded his winter coat, threw his arms wide and roared. The team marched on to a 10th successive win and after failing to win their initial half-dozen matches, now sit just three points off the leaders Arsenal.

Are They Serious Hopefuls?

This is a particularly tough question to answer. The historical record, the traditional standing of the club, suggests not. Moreover, they have not been completely commanding during this run, while the wins have piled up.

As per statistical analysis, on just two occasions have Villa registered an xG significantly higher than their opponents. For a club that have strung together a ten-match winning streak, the Villans appear weirdly vulnerable – yet currently the fine lines are going in their favour.

The Rogers Recipe

Their recent policy seems to be to exchange chances with rivals and wait for their talisman to bail them out with some crisp finishes. This occurred at Leeds, it occurred at West Ham, and again against Manchester United.

Rogers' first goal stemmed from a superb shot, curled right inside the upright from the edge of the area. For his second proved to be a somewhat messier replica of the opener capitalizing on a pass from Watkins.

“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?

Reason suggests otherwise. Against United, the opposition had a greater number of attempts and more direct attempts. The team has secured their last eight victories by a single goal. They have allowed goals in all but one of those fixtures.

A reversion to average may well be the greatest opponent they will encounter over the coming weeks. The forward, in all likelihood, will not continue to drilling his shots into the net's top corner indefinitely.

Potential for Growth

Maybe there exists a different scenario whereby, instead of luck running out, the level of play rises to match the results. Important figures may yet return to peak condition.

• Ollie Watkins may begin to finding the net regularly.
• The winger may rediscover the force he was at Borussia Dortmund.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually come back from the treatment room, bolstering a periodically leaky backline.

Maybe within that lies the seeds of a title challenge, however, it is improbable can continue to depend solely on Morgan Rogers.

Savoring the Moment

However, this is a surprise. It seemed improbable Villa would sit third at Christmas. And certainly back in October, few could imagine the midfielder now would be at the forefront of a title charge while establishing himself as a crucial player for the national team.

The current run should be enjoyed precisely because it feels so unlikely. As the hero faced the Villa faithful at the final whistle leading the celebrations, he seemed to be relishing every moment. As he deserves to. These runs of form are rare in football and must be appreciated.