For much of November, Paul Ifill looked like a man with the weight of the world on his shoulders.
Many had theorised about the reasons for Phoenix's sluggish A-League season and the finger was often pointed at Ifill and his inability to recreate his stupendous form of last season.
It looked like a classic case of second-season blues as he found himself more tightly marked and unable to effortlessly beat opponents and take control of matches as he had before.
Astonishing as it seems, some fans were even calling for him to be dropped from the side. Ifill himself admitted that he'd not have been surprised to be left out.
He was certainly trying, but things just weren't coming off. And with each failed attempt to unlock an opposition defence his cheeks were puffed out in frustration and more questions were asked about what had changed from last season to this.
The simple answer is that nothing had changed. Sometimes players in all sports just get into ruts. And often all that's needed is a slice of luck to swing things back the other way.
Going into last Wednesday's game against Melbourne Heart, it had been 621 minutes since Ifill last scored a goal.
After spurning a couple of early chances, the shackles were finally broken as the ball somehow found its way to him through a sea of legs and he scuffed his shot in. It certainly won't make a show reel of Ifill's greatest strikes, but the most important thing was it hit the back of the net.
From that moment, it seemed like a piano had been lifted from his back as he rediscovered the silky footwork and mazy dribbling which terrorised defences last season.
He added an excellent second goal and topped it with a wonderful solo effort against Melbourne Victory on Saturday.
I've watched that equaliser against Victory a few times and it's just a cracker. The best part for me is the way he draws Roddy Vargas and Kevin Muscat (two defenders with nearly 230 A-League games between them) into what they believe to be the right area to make a challenge before sailing past them on the outside, leaving both standing like leaden-footed schoolboys. The drilled finish inside Michael Petkovic's post was simply the icing on the cake.
And now the spring is back in the step and the smile back on the face. Goals are the lifeblood of players like Ifill and there's nothing better to shake a striker from an unwanted slumber than putting a couple past the 'keeper.
Despite a lethargic first half of the season, Ifill now sits atop the A-League's Golden Boot standings. If he can do that while he's not playing very well, one wonders what he can achieve now he's rediscovered his mojo.
Phoenix fans will look forward to finding out.
