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It was eight weeks prior when the Villa attacker found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, seeming perplexed as Unai Emery berated him for failing to anticipate a through-ball. Back then, as the club failed to win in six, the question was if his displays were a sign or the reason of the team's wider issues.

“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”

This weekend, though, the sideline response proved to be much more joyous. When Rogers drilled in his second strike to reclaim Villa's lead, the boss ripped off his jacket, spread his arms and roared. The team were on their way to a tenth straight victory and having failed to win their opening six fixtures, find themselves a mere three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.

Is This Team Serious Challengers?

It remains an exceptionally difficult query to resolve. The historical record, a general sense of the club, argues against it. Furthermore, they have not been entirely convincing this season, even as the positive results have piled up.

According to the data, on just two occasions has the side posted an xG more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a club which has strung together ten consecutive victories, the Villans appear strangely fragile – but currently the margins are swinging for them.

The Rogers Recipe

Their recent policy seems to be to engage in a shootout with the opposition before hoping their star man to rescue them with two crisp finishes. It happened at Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and again versus the Red Devils.

His opener came from an exquisite effort, bent right inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. For his second acted as a slight scruffier version of the opener as he seized on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.

“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.”

Is It Sustainable?

Common sense dictates no. Against United, Manchester United had more efforts and more efforts on goal. They have secured their last eight victories by a single goal. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those matches.

A reversion to average might be the greatest opponent the club will encounter in the near future. Their key man, almost certainly, cannot keep on thrashing the football into the net's top corner forever.

Potential for Growth

Could it be another reality in which, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs may yet rediscover their best form.

• The centre-forward could start finding the net regularly.
• The attacking talent could transform into the player he was at Borussia Dortmund.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are set to return from injury, strengthening a sometimes shaky backline.

Perhaps there is in that the possibility for a sustained push, but they surely can persist in leaning entirely on Morgan Rogers.

Relishing the Unlikely

However, this was unforeseen. Few believed Aston Villa would occupy third at Christmas. And most definitely earlier this season, no one envisioned the young forward as the year closed would be leading a championship pursuit while looking like a vital England player.

The current run should be enjoyed exactly since it feels so unlikely. When the match-winner stood in front of the Villa faithful at the final whistle conducting the cheers, it was clear to be thoroughly enjoying it. Which he fully merits. These spells do not happen often and must be appreciated.