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Just 60 days prior that the young forward found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered as Unai Emery admonished him over failing to anticipate a pass in behind. At that point, as the club endured a six-game winless run, doubts remained if his displays were an indicator or a cause of Villa's broader struggles.

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

In the latest match, in contrast, the touchline reaction was far more favourable. As the England international swept in his brace-sealing goal to restore the lead for Villa, Emery discarded his winter coat, threw his arms wide and roared. The Birmingham club continued to a tenth straight victory , having failed to win any of their first six games, are somehow just three points off pace-setters Arsenal.

Is This Team Legitimate Hopefuls?

It remains an exceptionally difficult proposition to resolve. Past precedent, the perceived status of the club, argues against it. Furthermore, they've rarely been wholly dominant during this run, even as the positive results have accumulated.

Per statistical analysis, twice all season have Villa registered an expected goals figure significantly higher than the other team. For a team who have just won ten consecutive victories, they seem strangely fragile – however currently the tight outcomes are swinging for them.

The Rogers Recipe

The current approach appears to be to exchange chances with rivals and then rely on their talisman to save the day with a couple of precise efforts. This was the case at Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and once more when facing Manchester United.

His opener came from a brilliant finish, curled just inside the upright from a wide position. His brace-completing goal acted as a slight scruffier version of his first capitalizing on a pass from Watkins.

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

Is It Sustainable?

Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, Manchester United had a greater number of attempts and more shots on target. Villa have secured their last eight victories by just one goal. They’ve conceded in all except one of those fixtures.

A statistical correction might be the biggest rival Villa have to face in the near future. Their key man, surely, cannot maintain blasting his shots into the net's top corner indefinitely.

A Case for Belief

Perhaps there is another reality in which, rather than results trending towards performances, the level of play rises to match the results. Vital cogs may yet rediscover their best form.

• Ollie Watkins might resume adding to his goal tally.
• The winger could transform into the performer he resembled in Germany.
• The injured centre-backs will eventually come back from the treatment room, strengthening a periodically leaky backline.

Maybe within that lies the potential of a title challenge, but they surely can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.

Savoring the Moment

But then, nobody expected this. Few believed Aston Villa would be in the top three for the holidays. And certainly two months ago, no one envisioned the midfielder by the end of the year would be leading a championship pursuit while establishing himself as a vital England player.

The current run is to be savoured for the very reason that it appears so improbable. When the hero faced the North End when the game ended conducting the cheers, he appeared to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. These runs of form are uncommon in the sport and ought to be celebrated.