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It was two months in the past when the young forward found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, seeming perplexed while the Villa manager scolded him over missing a through-ball. At that point, as Villa went six without a win, the question was whether his performances were an indicator or the reason for the side's more general malaise.

“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 proved to be much more joyous. After the England international swept in his second strike to reinstate his side's advantage, Emery tore off his jacket, opened his arms and roared. The team were on their way to a tenth straight victory , having failed to win their initial half-dozen games, now sit just three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Legitimate Title Contenders?

This is an exceptionally difficult proposition to address. The historical record, a general sense of the club, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, they have not been wholly dominant during this run, despite the fact the positive results have stacked up.

As per Opta, twice all season have Villa registered an expected goals figure notably superior than the other team. For a team that have put together ten consecutive victories, they seem curiously susceptible – yet right now the tight outcomes are swinging for them.

The Winning Formula

The current approach appears to be to exchange chances with the opposition and wait for their talisman to rescue them with a couple of precise efforts. This was the case away to Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and once more against United.

The initial strike originated from a brilliant finish, curled precisely inside the upright from a wide position. For his second was essentially a slight scruffier version of goal number one capitalizing on a pass from Watkins.

“Perhaps Rogers’ right foot is becoming like Arjen Robben’s left: just because you know he’s going to whip the ball into the top corner doesn’t mean you can stop him.”

How Long Can This Continue?

Reason suggests otherwise. During the latest victory, Manchester United registered a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. They have won each of their last eight by just one goal. They’ve conceded in all except one of those games.

Regression to the mean could be the most significant challenge the club must confront over the coming weeks. The forward, in all likelihood, cannot keep on blasting the ball past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.

Potential for Growth

Could it be a different scenario in which, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Key players may yet return to peak condition.

• The main striker could start adding to his goal tally.
• Jadon Sancho might become the force he was during his peak.
• The defensive duo will eventually regain fitness, bolstering an occasionally vulnerable backline.

Maybe within that lies the possibility for a sustained push, but they surely can persist in leaning entirely on Morgan Rogers.

Enjoying the Ride

However, this was unforeseen. Nobody thought the team would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely two months ago, few could imagine the midfielder now would be at the forefront of a championship pursuit and appearing as a crucial player for the national team.

The current run should be enjoyed for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. When Rogers stood in front of the North End at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be relishing every moment. As he deserves to. These spells are uncommon in the sport and must be appreciated.