After scoring two goals in two matches for Manchester United Federico Macheda is the toast of Old Trafford but the young striker's success will not be allowed to go to go to his head, according to Ben Foster, making a rare start in goal himself.

Macheda scored a dramatic late winner on his debut as a substitute in the recent 3-2 win over Aston Villa and the 17-year-old repeated the trick against Sunderland on Saturday, producing the decisive strike to earn his side a 2-1 league victory.

However, Macheda will not be allowed to get too carried away by his early success, according to one of United's other rising stars, Foster. "He should be OK," said the England goalkeeper. "Kiko is quite a level-headed lad but I don't think there are too many in the dressing room that would let him get carried away with himself. Gary Neville puts his foot down on anything like that."

With the Italian striker having appeared on Facebook surrounded by female admirers, Sir Alex Ferguson, the United manager, has already been to see Macheda's parents in order to impress upon them the importance of their son avoiding the pitfalls of fame.

And it appears his team-mates are also playing their part in keeping the teenager's feet on the ground. Macheda insists he meant to turn Michael Carrick's wayward shot in for United's winner but the players remain sceptical. "He says he guided it in," revealed Foster. "He said it was a deft touch but I don't think many of the lads believe him."

The scorer of United's first goal, Paul Scholes, is probably the most even-keeled of all of Ferguson's charges and he has set the perfect example by already focusing his full attention on Tuesday's Champions League trip to Porto.

United are looking to turn round the disappointment of a 2-2 draw in the first leg at Old Trafford and in order to reach the semi-finals they will probably need to become the first English side to win at the Estadio do Dragao, but Scholes is confident his side can meet the challenge.

"It is a big game," said Scholes. "Their home form is obviously pretty good, so there is no doubt it is going to be difficult. But all we have to do is win a game and with the players we have, I am sure we are capable of that."

United are hopeful of Dimitar Berbatov recovering from his ankle injury while Rio Ferdinand is facing a race against time to be fit from his groin injury.