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A mere eight weeks in the past when the young forward stood on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered as the Villa manager berated him over missing a pass in behind. During that period, as the club failed to win in six, doubts remained if his displays were a symptom or the source of the team's broader struggles.

“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”

In the latest match, in contrast, the manager's outburst was entirely decidedly more positive. After Rogers swept in his brace-sealing goal to reinstate the lead for Villa, Emery tore off his coat, opened his arms and bellowed. Villa continued to a 10th successive win and having failed to win their initial half-dozen fixtures, are somehow a mere three points off table-toppers Arsenal.

Is This Team Serious Challengers?

That’s a particularly tough proposition to answer. Past precedent, a general sense of Villa, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, they have not been wholly dominant in many games, despite the fact the positive results have stacked up.

As per Opta, twice all season has the team had an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than the other team. For a club who have strung together ten consecutive victories, the Villans seem strangely fragile – but right now the fine lines are falling their way.

The Rogers Recipe

Their recent policy seems to be to exchange chances with the opposition before hoping their star man to rescue them with two crisp finishes. This was the case against Leeds, it transpired against West Ham, and again against the Red Devils.

Rogers' first goal came from an exquisite effort, arced just inside the upright from the edge of the area. The follow-up goal was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of his first capitalizing on a pass from Watkins.

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

Is It Sustainable?

Logic says not. In the recent win, the opponents managed more shots and more efforts on goal. The team has won each of their last eight by a single goal. They have allowed goals in nearly all of those games.

A reversion to average may well be the most significant challenge they must confront over the coming weeks. The forward, surely, will not continue to drilling the football past despairing goalkeepers week in, week out.

Potential for Growth

Could it be another reality where, rather than luck running out, the level of play rises to match the results. Key players may yet return to peak condition.

• The centre-forward could start scoring again.
• Jadon Sancho might become the force he resembled during his peak.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are due to come back from the treatment room, fortifying an occasionally vulnerable defensive unit.

Perhaps there is in that the possibility of a genuine bid, but they surely can continue to depend solely on Morgan Rogers.

Enjoying the Ride

Yet, nobody expected this. Nobody thought Aston Villa would sit in the top three for the holidays. And certainly earlier this season, nobody thought Rogers as the year closed would be spearheading a hunt for the title while establishing himself as a vital player for the national team.

The current run is to be savoured precisely because it seems so surreal. When the hero positioned himself before the Villa faithful at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells do not happen often and must be appreciated.