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It was two months prior when the young forward stood on the Sunderland turf, appearing bewildered while the Villa manager scolded him over failing to anticipate a penetrating pass. During that period, as the club went six without a win, doubts remained if his displays were a sign or a cause of the side's more general malaise.

“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”

On Sunday, however, the manager's outburst was entirely decidedly more positive. As Rogers drilled in his second strike to restore Villa's lead, the boss ripped off his winter coat, threw his arms wide and roared. The Birmingham club were on their way to ten wins in a row and having failed to win any of their first six matches, now sit a mere three points behind the leaders Arsenal.

Are They Legitimate Title Contenders?

It remains a particularly tough question to address. History, the traditional standing of the club, argues against it. Moreover, their performances haven't been completely commanding during this run, while the positive results have stacked up.

According to Opta, twice all season has the side had an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than the other team. For a team that have just won ten consecutive victories, Villa look curiously susceptible – but at the moment the fine lines are swinging for them.

The Rogers Recipe

Their recent policy looks like to exchange chances with rivals and then rely on their star man to rescue them with two precise efforts. This was the case at Leeds, it transpired in London, and once more against Manchester United.

His opener stemmed from an exquisite effort, curled precisely inside the upright from the edge of the area. For his second acted as a somewhat messier replica of the opener 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.”

How Long Can This Continue?

Logic says not. In the recent win, the opposition managed more efforts and more efforts on goal. Villa have triumphed in eight consecutive games by just one goal. They have allowed goals in nearly all of those fixtures.

A statistical correction may well be the most significant challenge Villa have to face over the coming weeks. Rogers, almost certainly, cannot keep on blasting his shots past despairing goalkeepers forever.

A Case for Belief

Could it be another reality whereby, rather than luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs may yet find their top level.

• The main striker could start adding to his goal tally.
• Jadon Sancho might become the performer he showed during his peak.
• The defensive duo are due to come back from the treatment room, strengthening a sometimes shaky defensive unit.

Maybe within that lies the seeds for a sustained push, however, it is improbable can continue to depend solely on a single individual.

Savoring the Moment

Yet, nobody expected this. Few believed the team would be third at Christmas. And without a doubt two months ago, nobody thought the young forward as the year closed would be spearheading a hunt for the title and appearing as an essential England player.

This winning streak must be cherished for the very reason that it appears so improbable. When Rogers positioned himself before the North End when the game ended orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it. Which he fully merits. Such periods do not happen often and must be appreciated.