Marcus Rashford's scintillating form comes from "just confidence" and not the influence of Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, who joked: "I'm not Harry Potter".
The England international scored his 18th goal of the season amid a routine 3-0 EFL Cup semi-final first-leg victory at Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.
Only Erling Haaland (31) has netted more than Rashford among Premier League players in all competitions this term, though Ten Hag says he has had little influence on the United forward's development.
"I'm not Harry Potter," the Dutchman said ahead of Saturday's fourth-round FA Cup clash at home to Reading.
"It's just confidence. Every player has to make and get his own confidence.
"He fought for this, he invested in this. Of course with my coaching staff, we bring in structures, especially in the way of play that gives him routines that he needs to get into the right position.
"But finally, it's up to him, and when the player has the confidence then I'm convinced, in the way we are working – the way of play is most important but the environment and the culture are also important – then the player can perform at his best.
"It's obvious that Marcus is in really good form. From day to day, from training to training, from game to game, the routines are coming in."
Rashford has found the net 10 times after the World Cup, in which England fell to quarter-final elimination against France in Qatar.
Harry Maguire was another to impress in the Middle East for Gareth Southgate's side, but opportunities remain limited on club duty at Old Trafford.
A potential move to Unai Emery's Aston Villa was reported for Maguire, who Ten Hag urged to fight for a starting role at United amid competition from Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane and Victor Lindelof. Luke Shaw has also been used at centre-back.
"No, he's not fifth choice,” he said about Maguire. "But it's up to him.
"I have to say he's training very well, bringing quality, and that is what I expect from all the players in the squad.
"He has to fight for his position and things can change, sometimes really quickly. He is making progress."
An FA Cup clash against Championship side Reading may present Maguire with an opportunity to feature from the start, though Ten Hag refuted claims he does not trust the centre-back in big matches.
He said: "That's not true. After the World Cup he should have played but then he got ill. I can't do anything about that and he knows that. Then the team comes in a run [of form] and he has to wait for his chance."
Lukaku open to Saudi Arabia move one year after rejecting Al-Hilal
Romelu Lukaku is open to joining a Saudi Pro League club one year after rejecting Al-Hilal, as Chelsea look to get the striker off the books.
Chelsea re-signed Lukaku for an estimated £97.5million in 2021, but he has spent the last two seasons on loan at Inter and Roma after struggling at Stamford Bridge.
Lukaku scored 21 goals for Roma in 2023-24 and the Giallorossi are keen on keeping him at the Stadio Olimpico, but cannot match Chelsea's reported £37m asking price.
The Blues accepted an offer for Lukaku's services from Al-Hilal last year, when several big-name players swapped Europe's top leagues for the Saudi Pro League, but the Belgian rejected the move.
He is now more open to playing in the country after discussing the prospect with international team-mate Yannick Carrasco, who left Atletico Madrid for Al-Shabab last September.
Recalling his decision to turn Al-Hilal down, Lukaku told VTM: "It was really intense for two weeks. For two days in a row I thought, 'yes, I'm going', then, 'no, I'm not going'.
"I was scared for a moment, everyone only went there after I declined the offer.
"I have often spoken with Yannick about life there. He lives in a complex, but you really have everything there."
Lukaku, who is gearing up to represent Belgium at his sixth major tournament at Euro 2024, says patience will be required as he weighs up his next move.
"A lot of people like to talk, maybe because I don't have an agent, but I'll decide," he added. "I'm in control of my situation.
"I'm going to make a choice and once I explain it, everyone will agree with me."
Lukaku scored 14 goals in just eight games in Euro 2024 qualifying, a record for a European Championship qualification campaign. Those goals came from just 29 shots, with the 31-year-old averaging a goal every 39 minutes.
He is also Belgium's all-time leading scorer at major tournaments (World Cup and Euros), with 11 goals in 22 matches.
However, just two of those strikes have come in knockout games, against the United States in the round of 16 at the 2014 World Cup and versus Italy in the Euro 2020 quarter-finals.
Scotland call up Red Bulls striker Morgan after Dykes and Doak withdraw
New York Red Bulls forward Lewis Morgan has been added to Scotland's preliminary squad for Euro 2024 following the withdrawals of Lyndon Dykes and Ben Doak.
Steve Clarke lost Queens Park Rangers striker Dykes to a knee injury in training last week, and Liverpool winger Ben Doak also withdrew from the squad on Tuesday, having not featured for his club since sustaining a knee problem last December.
Bristol City's Tommy Conway was added to Scotland's party upon Doak's withdrawal, and he has now been joined by Morgan, who has spent the last two years with the Red Bulls.
Morgan has scored nine goals in 16 league appearances in 2024, with Sandro Schwarz's Red Bulls sitting fourth in the Eastern Conference, six points behind leaders Inter Miami. He has previously won two caps for Scotland, with both outings coming under Alex McLeish in 2018.
Morgan's nine league goals this year have come from 46 shots amounting to 6.56 expected goals (xG). His big chance conversion rate of 63.6 per cent has only been bettered by 13 players in MLS this term and is identical to the figure posted by Lionel Messi.
He scored a hat-trick as the Red Bulls thrashed Miami 4-0 in March, when Messi was unavailable.
Scotland kick off Euro 2024 versus Germany in eight days' time, with fixtures against Switzerland and Hungary also on the agenda for Clarke's team in Group A.
Tudor resigns as Lazio boss after just three months in charge
Igor Tudor has resigned from his position as Lazio head coach following the conclusion of the 2023-24 Serie A season.
The Croatian was appointed in March following Maurizio Sarri's resignation at the Stadio Olimpico, signing an 18-month contract.
However, the Biancocelesti have now confirmed his departure, despite Tudor having led the Italian side to a seventh-place finish and Europa League qualification.
"S.S. Lazio announces that, today, Igor Tudor has resigned as head of the first team," the statement read.
"The Club would like to thank the coach for his work and wishes him the best of luck personally and professionally."
The 46-year-old started his coaching career in his home nation with Hajduk Split, for whom he made 66 appearances during his playing days.
Tenures in Greece and Turkey would follow, before Tudor moved to Serie A for the first time in 2018 with Udinese, who he coached on two separate occasions in the space of a year.
Tudor also took charge of Hellas Verona and Marseille, leading the French club to a third-place finish in Ligue 1 and ensuring qualification for the Champions League before returning to Italy in March, though his Lazio spell has proved short-lived.
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