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A mere 60 days prior that the young forward stood on the Sunderland turf, appearing bewildered as the Villa manager scolded him over not reading a penetrating pass. At that point, as Villa went six without a win, the question was if his performances were a sign or the reason of the side's wider issues.

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

In the latest match, in contrast, the sideline response was entirely decidedly more positive. As Rogers curled home his brace-sealing goal to restore his side's advantage, Emery discarded his jacket, opened his arms and shouted in triumph. The Birmingham club were on their way to a tenth straight victory and after failing to win any of their first six fixtures, find themselves only three points off the leaders Arsenal.

Is This Team Genuine Title Contenders?

This is an exceptionally difficult proposition to resolve. Past precedent, a general sense of the club, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, they've rarely been entirely convincing during this run, even as the wins have stacked up.

Per Opta, in only two games has the side had an expected goals figure significantly higher than the other team. For a team that have just won 10 in a row, Villa appear curiously susceptible – however at the moment the tight outcomes are going in their favour.

The Reliant Strategy

Their recent policy seems to be to exchange chances with rivals before hoping their star man to save the day with two precise efforts. This was the case at Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and once more when facing United.

His opener stemmed from an exquisite effort, bent precisely inside the goal frame from a wide position. For his second was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of his first 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.”

How Long Can This Continue?

Reason suggests otherwise. Against United, Manchester United registered a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. The team has secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. They have allowed goals in all except one of those fixtures.

A statistical correction may well be the most significant challenge the club have to face over the coming weeks. Rogers, almost certainly, will not continue to drilling his shots past despairing goalkeepers forever.

Reasons for Optimism

Could it be another reality where, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs may yet find their top level.

• The main striker could start scoring again.
• The attacking talent could transform into the performer he was during his peak.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are due to come back from the treatment room, bolstering a periodically leaky defensive unit.

Perhaps there is in that the seeds of a genuine bid, but they surely can continue to depend solely on Morgan Rogers.

Enjoying the Ride

But then, nobody expected this. Nobody thought Villa would sit in a Champions League place in December. And certainly two months ago, few could imagine Rogers by the end of the year would be leading a championship pursuit and appearing as a crucial Three Lions star.

The current run is to be savoured exactly since it feels so unlikely. When Rogers faced the home supporters at the final whistle conducting the cheers, he seemed to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and must be appreciated.