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A mere two months ago when the young forward found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered while Unai Emery berated him over not reading a through-ball. Back then, as Villa endured a six-game winless run, doubts remained if his performances were a sign or the source of the side's broader struggles.

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

On Sunday, though, the sideline response was far more favourable. When the England international swept in his second to reclaim the lead for Villa, the boss ripped off his coat, opened his arms and shouted in triumph. The team were on their way to a tenth straight victory , despite not winning their initial half-dozen matches, now sit just three points adrift of pace-setters Arsenal.

Are They Genuine Hopefuls?

This is an exceptionally difficult question to resolve. Past precedent, the traditional standing of Villa, indicates otherwise. Moreover, they've rarely been completely commanding in many games, despite the fact the wins have stacked up.

As per the data, on just two occasions has the team had an xG notably superior than the other team. For a side who have just won ten consecutive victories, they seem curiously susceptible – however right now the margins are going in their favour.

The Winning Formula

Their recent policy looks like to engage in a shootout with rivals before hoping their star man to save the day with some crisp finishes. This was the case against Leeds, it transpired against West Ham, and it happened against the Red Devils.

The initial strike stemmed from a superb shot, arced right inside the goal frame from the edge of the area. The follow-up goal acted as a slightly less clean iteration of his first capitalizing on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.

“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. During the latest victory, the opposition had a greater number of attempts and more shots on target. Villa have won each of their last eight by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those games.

Regression to the mean might be the greatest opponent Villa must confront as the season progresses. Rogers, in all likelihood, cannot maintain thrashing his shots past despairing goalkeepers forever.

Reasons for Optimism

Maybe there exists a different scenario whereby, instead of results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs might still return to peak condition.

• The centre-forward might resume scoring again.
• The winger might become the performer he was at Borussia Dortmund.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually return from injury, bolstering a sometimes shaky defensive unit.

Perhaps there is in that the seeds of a title challenge, but they surely cannot keep relying on one man.

Savoring the Moment

Yet, this was unforeseen. Few believed Aston Villa would occupy in a Champions League place in December. And without a doubt earlier this season, few could imagine Rogers now would be leading a title charge and appearing as an essential England player.

This remarkable period is to be savoured precisely because it feels so unlikely. As the hero faced the Villa faithful at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. These spells are rare in football and must be appreciated.