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A mere 60 days prior that the young forward found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, seeming perplexed as Unai Emery scolded him over not reading a penetrating pass. During that period, with the team endured a six-game winless run, it wasn't clear whether his performances were an indicator or the source of the team'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, though, the touchline reaction was decidedly more positive. As Rogers swept in his second strike to restore Villa's lead, the boss tore off his jacket, opened his arms and shouted in triumph. Villa continued to ten wins in a row , after failing to win any of their first six fixtures, now sit only three points adrift of the leaders Arsenal.

Are They Serious Hopefuls?

This is an exceptionally difficult query to answer. History, a general sense of Villa, indicates otherwise. Additionally, they have not been wholly dominant in many games, while the wins have piled up.

Per the data, in only two games has the side had an expected goals figure significantly higher than their opponents. For a side that have put together a ten-match winning streak, the Villans seem strangely fragile – yet right now the fine lines are swinging for them.

The Winning Formula

The current approach seems to be to exchange chances with rivals before hoping their talisman to save the day with two clinical strikes. This was the case at Leeds, it transpired against West Ham, and once more against Manchester United.

His opener originated from a brilliant finish, bent right inside the post from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal acted as a slightly less clean iteration of his first 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?

Reason suggests otherwise. In the recent win, Manchester United registered more efforts and more shots on target. The team has won each of their last eight by just one goal. The defence has been breached in all except one of those matches.

Regression to the mean may well be the biggest rival Villa must confront as the season progresses. The forward, almost certainly, cannot keep on blasting the football into the net's top corner week in, week out.

Potential for Growth

Maybe there exists another reality whereby, instead of results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs may yet rediscover their best form.

• The main striker could start scoring again.
• Jadon Sancho could transform into the player he resembled during his peak.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are due to come back from the treatment room, strengthening a sometimes shaky backline.

Perhaps there is in that the potential of a title challenge, however, it is improbable can continue to depend solely on one man.

Relishing the Unlikely

However, this was unforeseen. Nobody thought Aston Villa would sit in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely back in October, few could imagine the young forward by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a championship pursuit and appearing as a vital Three Lions star.

This remarkable period must be cherished exactly since it seems so surreal. As the match-winner positioned himself before the Villa faithful after the match leading the celebrations, it was clear to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. These runs of form are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.