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Just eight weeks ago when the Villa attacker stood on the Stadium of Light pitch, looking confused while Unai Emery scolded him over not reading a penetrating pass. Back then, as the club endured a six-game winless run, it wasn't clear if Rogers' form were a symptom or the reason for the side's broader struggles.

“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”

This weekend, in contrast, the touchline reaction was far more favourable. After Rogers curled home his second to reclaim his side's advantage, the boss discarded his winter coat, threw his arms wide and bellowed. The Birmingham club continued to ten wins in a row , after failing to win their initial half-dozen games, now sit only three points off table-toppers Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Legitimate Title Contenders?

This is a particularly tough query to answer. History, a general sense of Villa, argues against it. Additionally, they have not been entirely convincing during this run, while the victories have stacked up.

According to the data, in only two games has the team posted an expected goals figure significantly higher than the opposition. For a side which has put together a ten-match winning streak, the Villans appear strangely fragile – however right now the tight outcomes are swinging for them.

The Winning Formula

The current approach seems to be to trade blows with an opponent and wait for Rogers to rescue them with a couple of crisp finishes. This was the case at Leeds, it transpired against West Ham, and it happened versus the Red Devils.

The initial strike stemmed from a brilliant finish, curled just inside the post from a wide position. For his second was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of the opener 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. In the recent win, Manchester United registered more efforts and more efforts on goal. They have secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in all except one of those games.

Regression to the mean might be the biggest rival the club must confront as the season progresses. Their key man, almost certainly, cannot maintain drilling the ball into the top corner week in, week out.

Potential for Growth

Could it be another reality where, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs may yet return to peak condition.

• The main striker may begin to scoring again.
• The winger might become the performer he resembled in Germany.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are due to come back from the treatment room, fortifying an occasionally vulnerable defence.

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

Enjoying the Ride

Yet, this is a surprise. Few believed the team would sit in a Champions League place in December. And without a doubt back in October, no one envisioned Rogers as the year closed would be spearheading a hunt for the title while establishing himself as a vital England player.

This remarkable period must be cherished exactly since it seems so surreal. When Rogers positioned himself before the home supporters at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be relishing every moment. As he deserves to. These runs of form are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.