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A mere eight weeks prior when the young forward was standing on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered as Unai Emery berated him over not reading a penetrating pass. Back then, as Villa failed to win in six, it wasn't clear if Rogers' form were a symptom or the reason for the side's more general malaise.

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

In the latest match, in contrast, the manager's outburst proved to be far more favourable. After the England international drilled in his second to reclaim Villa's lead, Emery tore off his jacket, threw his arms wide and bellowed. Villa were on their way to a tenth straight victory , having failed to win any of their first six games, are somehow only three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Legitimate Title Contenders?

It remains a particularly tough query to resolve. The historical record, the perceived status of Villa, indicates otherwise. Additionally, their performances haven't been entirely convincing during this run, even as the positive results have piled up.

According to the data, twice all season have Villa had an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than the other team. For a club which has just won a ten-match winning streak, the Villans appear weirdly vulnerable – yet right now the margins are falling their way.

The Winning Formula

The current approach appears to be to engage in a shootout with rivals before hoping their talisman to save the day with two crisp finishes. It happened away to Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and once more versus the Red Devils.

His opener came from a brilliant finish, curled precisely inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal proved to be a slight scruffier version of goal number one as he seized on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.

“Rogers’ right foot is now akin to Robben’s legendary left: forewarned does not mean forearmed, and stopping him is another matter entirely.”

Can It Last?

Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, Manchester United registered more shots and more direct attempts. The team has won each of their last eight by a single goal. The defence has been breached in all except one of those matches.

A reversion to average could be the greatest opponent they will encounter over the coming weeks. The forward, surely, cannot maintain blasting the football into the net's top corner forever.

Potential for Growth

Could it be a different scenario whereby, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, the level of play rises to match the results. Key players could still find their top level.

• The centre-forward could start adding to his goal tally.
• The attacking talent may rediscover the force he showed at Borussia Dortmund.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are due to return from injury, fortifying a sometimes shaky defensive unit.

Perhaps there is in that the potential of a genuine bid, however, it is improbable can persist in leaning entirely on one man.

Relishing the Unlikely

But then, this is a surprise. Few believed Villa would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And certainly two months ago, few could imagine the young forward by the end of the year would be spearheading a championship pursuit while looking like a crucial Three Lions star.

This winning streak must be cherished exactly since it feels so unlikely. As Rogers stood in front of the North End at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it. As he deserves to. These spells are rare in football and should be relished.