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Just 60 days ago when the young forward was standing on the pitch at Sunderland, appearing bewildered as the Villa manager admonished him for not reading a penetrating pass. Back then, with the team failed to win in six, doubts remained if his performances were a sign or the source of the side's more general malaise.

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

This weekend, though, the touchline reaction proved to be much more joyous. As the England international curled home his second strike to restore his side's advantage, Emery tore off his winter coat, opened his arms and shouted in triumph. The team were on their way to ten wins in a row , after failing to win any of their first six games, find themselves just three points off table-toppers Arsenal.

Is This Team Legitimate Hopefuls?

That’s an exceptionally difficult query to resolve. Past precedent, a general sense of the club, suggests not. Additionally, they've rarely been entirely convincing this season, despite the fact the victories have stacked up.

As per statistical analysis, on just two occasions has the team had an xG notably superior than the opposition. For a team that have just won ten consecutive victories, the Villans seem curiously susceptible – yet right now the tight outcomes are falling their way.

The Reliant Strategy

The current approach seems to be to engage in a shootout with rivals before hoping their star man to bail them out with a couple of clinical strikes. This occurred at Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and again versus Manchester United.

Rogers' first goal originated from an exquisite effort, curled right inside the goal frame from a wide position. His brace-completing goal was essentially a slightly less clean iteration 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.”

Can It Last?

Logic says not. Against United, the opposition had more shots and more efforts on goal. Villa have won each of their last eight by a single goal. They’ve conceded in all but one of those fixtures.

A reversion to average may well be the greatest opponent Villa must confront over the coming weeks. Their key man, in all likelihood, will not continue to drilling his shots into the top corner forever.

Reasons for Optimism

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

• The main striker could start finding the net regularly.
• Jadon Sancho could transform into the player he resembled during his peak.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are set to return from injury, bolstering a periodically leaky defence.

This could contain the possibility of a genuine bid, yet it seems unlikely can persist in leaning entirely on Morgan Rogers.

Relishing the Unlikely

Yet, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable Villa would be third at Christmas. And without a doubt earlier this season, nobody thought Rogers by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a title charge while looking like a crucial Three Lions star.

The current run is to be savoured precisely because it appears so improbable. When Rogers faced the North End after the match orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. These runs of form are rare in football and must be appreciated.