Managers are inclined to claim that what separates the great from the good is not their craft — that would be taken as read — but their graft. This is not an attempt to turn playmakers into water-carriers, to reward the conscientious above the inspirational, but a realisation that the best players serve their team above themselves.

Some talented Sunday morning players will have taken to the parks yesterday intent on replicating the breathtakingly brilliant step-over runs of Cristiano Ronaldo — others will have taken on board the hard work of Wayne Rooney in Saturday’s victory over Watford.

In a season when Ronaldo could lay claim to be the best player in the world, earning his £31 million pay-as-you-glow deal, Rooney took a rare share of the limelight at Villa Park. But if awe was the common theme among the Watford players’ appraisals of this David versus Goliath FA Cup tie, Gavin Mahon recognised the shift that Rooney, in particular, had put in.

Jay DeMerit, the United States defender, likened the powers of the 40-goal pairing to those of a legendary basketball icon.

“You can’t stop those guys,” he said. “All you can hope for is to try to contain them. They used to say that about Michael Jordan back in the States. They are the same type of players. They will always create opportunities for themselves because of the qualities they have.”

Mahon claimed that no one could have shackled Rooney on Saturday. “On his day, he’s unplayable,” the Watford captain said.

His workrate is tremendous. He’s so aware of what’s around him and he’s always tracking back. These top stars work really hard these days and they make life really hard for you.” So it was Rooney’s winning of a touchline heading duel with Jordan Stewart, as much as his instinctive turn inside onto a return pass from Alan Smith, that helped set up Ronaldo’s 21st goal of the season.

And as Darren Fletcher came on in an unaccustomed right back position, when Rio Ferdinand was substituted in the first half, Rooney instinctively withdrew to the right of midfield, to help protect his team’s lead. There was plenty of time for his sleight of foot, his timing and his confidence to bring him the two goals that equalled last season’s tally of 19.

Rooney acknowledged he is peaking at the right time as United bid for the treble. “I’m doing well at the minute, I’m scoring a few goals and the team is doing well,” he said. “I hope I don’t get a rest.” He agreed that this team has not played better.

“I don’t think so,” he said. “We’ve got real confidence and belief in ourselves, we’re playing some brilliant attacking football and opening teams up. I’m delighted to be a part of that.”

Striking revelation

— Rooney, a striker, spent the opening stages of Saturday’s match on the left wing before switching to the right, where most of his touches came

— Giggs, who has operated for most of the season in his normal position on the left of midfield, based himself in the centre, just behind the front line, although he roved a lot

— Giggs, lacking the searing pace with which he announced himself in the top flight in the early 1990s, is now more effective threading passes in tight areas in the centre, while Rooney has the speed to cause damage on the flanks, as he showed by tearing to the right-hand byline before teeing up United’s second goal for Cristiano Ronaldo