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A mere 60 days in the past that the young forward found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, appearing bewildered as his coach admonished him over missing a penetrating pass. During that period, with the team went six without a win, the question was whether his performances were an indicator or the source of 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, however, the touchline reaction was far more favourable. When the in-form star drilled in his brace-sealing goal to reinstate his side's advantage, the Spanish tactician tore off his jacket, opened his arms and roared. The Birmingham club were on their way to a 10th successive win , despite not winning their opening six fixtures, find themselves only three points off the leaders Arsenal.

Is This Team Legitimate Title Contenders?

That’s a particularly tough query to address. History, the traditional standing of the club, argues against it. Furthermore, they have not been wholly dominant this season, while the wins have stacked up.

As per Opta, in only two games has the side posted an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than the other team. For a team which has put together 10 in a row, they appear strangely fragile – but currently the tight outcomes are going in their favour.

The Winning Formula

The prevailing tactic seems to be to engage in a shootout with the opposition and then rely on Rogers to bail them out with some precise efforts. This was the case at Leeds, it occurred at West Ham, and once more versus the Red Devils.

His opener stemmed from an exquisite effort, arced just inside the upright from the corner of the box. The follow-up goal was essentially a somewhat messier replica of his first as he pounced on a setup by his strike partner.

“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?

Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, the opponents had more shots and more shots on target. Villa have triumphed in eight consecutive games by the narrowest of margins. They’ve conceded in all but one of those matches.

A reversion to average could be the greatest opponent Villa will encounter over the coming weeks. Rogers, in all likelihood, cannot maintain blasting the ball into the top corner forever.

Reasons for Optimism

Could it be another reality whereby, rather than luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs may yet return to peak condition.

• The centre-forward might resume scoring again.
• The attacking talent may rediscover the performer he was at Borussia Dortmund.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually return from injury, bolstering a sometimes shaky defence.

Perhaps there is in that the possibility of a title challenge, however, it is improbable can persist in leaning entirely on Morgan Rogers.

Savoring the Moment

But then, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable Villa would sit in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely back in October, few could imagine the midfielder as the year closed would be spearheading a title charge while looking like a crucial Three Lions star.

This winning streak should be enjoyed for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. When Rogers faced the North End after the match orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be relishing every moment. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.