Man City boss Gareth Taylor believes top goalscorer Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw has a "supreme" mentality similar to that of men's striker Erling Haaland.
Both Shaw and Haaland have set new records for the respective City first-teams this season. The Jamaican scored twice in a 2-1 win at Brighton last weekend, meaning she now has a remarkable 26 goals in 22 games in all competitions this season.
That set a new club record for the women's team, for most goals in a single campaign. Haaland, meanwhile, has 39 goals in 36 games, with his five-goal haul against RB Leipzig in a 7-0 win on Tuesday confirming he had broken the equivalent record for the men's team - which had stood unbroken for 94 years.
Both forwards will be crucial to their sides as City chase silverware on all fronts in the closing months of the season. Taylor's women's team are in the FA Cup last eight this weekend and are just two points off the top in the WSL.
Speaking ahead of a huge cup quarter-final clash with Aston Villa, Taylor said Shaw has shown in recent weeks she has a similar mentality to Haaland, by not allowing one or two misses to alter her confidence in front of goal.
"She's got that real consistency now of scoring in important moments," said Taylor. "She's not just scoring singles now, but getting braces and trebles. It is pretty remarkable. And she is a very humble player to work with Bunny. A good character who has improved so much in her game this season and improved the players around her.
"She is in a moment where she is really enjoying playing with this team. She knows she is going to get opportunities and last week (against Brighton) she put them away really well."
Shaw's latest game was a prime example of her ruthless mentality. She missed a huge chance at 1-1 in the second half as City chased a vital three points away to a struggling Albion. But Shaw kept on plugging away and fired an 89th minute winner past Megan Walsh when latching onto a loose ball in the penalty area.
"She missed a few chances against Brighton," explained Taylor. "But that is what separates these strikers apart. I'd go back to Erling missing one against [Nottingham] Forest. These players are supremely mentally strong, or they certainly appear it, that they just go again.
"These strikers are always going to get opportunities. I've always found that with the best players they are able to brush off disappointments really quickly.
"I think that is a sign of a top player which is overlooked a little bit - that mentality. It is bravery to receive the ball when things aren't going well. That is what separates the very best from the rest."
It is a big week for Man City who face Villa in the last eight of the cup before hosting Chelsea in a crucial top-of-the-table WSL clash at the Academy Stadium next Sunday.
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