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It was 60 days ago that the young forward found himself on the Sunderland turf, appearing bewildered as the Villa manager berated him for not reading a through-ball. At that point, as the club failed to win in six, the question was whether Rogers' form were an indicator or a cause 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.”

On Sunday, though, the sideline response proved to be much more joyous. After Rogers drilled in his brace-sealing goal to reclaim the lead for Villa, the boss tore off his jacket, threw his arms wide and bellowed. Villa marched on to a 10th successive win and after failing to win any of their first six fixtures, find themselves just three points off the leaders Arsenal.

Are They Serious Title Contenders?

This is a rather hard proposition to answer. The historical record, a general sense of Villa, argues against it. Moreover, they've rarely been entirely convincing this season, despite the fact the positive results have accumulated.

According to Opta, in only two games have Villa had an xG significantly higher than their opponents. For a team who have just won a ten-match winning streak, Villa appear weirdly vulnerable – yet at the moment the margins are going in their favour.

The Rogers Recipe

The current approach appears to be to exchange chances with the opposition before hoping their star man to save the day with some precise efforts. This occurred away to Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and once more when facing Manchester United.

The initial strike came from a brilliant finish, curled just inside the post from a wide position. His brace-completing goal was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of his first as he pounced on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.

“Much like Robben with his left, Rogers’ right foot has become a known threat that remains brutally unstoppable, regardless of anticipation.”

How Long Can This Continue?

Logic says not. In the recent win, the opponents managed more efforts and more direct attempts. They have secured their last eight victories by just one goal. The defence has been breached in all except one of those matches.

A statistical correction could be the biggest rival the club will encounter in the near future. The forward, in all likelihood, cannot maintain drilling the ball into the top corner week in, week out.

Potential for Growth

Perhaps there is an alternative path where, rather than results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs might still rediscover their best form.

• The main striker might resume scoring again.
• Jadon Sancho could transform into the performer he showed in Germany.
• The injured centre-backs are set to return from injury, fortifying a periodically leaky backline.

This could contain the seeds for a sustained push, however, it is improbable can continue to depend solely on a single individual.

Enjoying the Ride

But then, this was unforeseen. It seemed improbable the team would occupy in a Champions League place in December. And certainly earlier this season, no one envisioned the young forward as the year closed would be spearheading a title charge while establishing himself as a crucial Three Lions star.

This winning streak should be enjoyed for the very reason that it appears so improbable. As the hero positioned himself before the Villa faithful after the match orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells are rare in football and should be relished.