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Raul Jimenez has scored all 14 of the penalties he has taken in the Premier League.

And his latest followed a well-rehearsed routine to round off the scoring in Fulham’s 3-1 victory over relegation-threatened Burnley as he extended his own record for the best 100% conversion rate in the competition’s history.

It also provided the Mexico international with a poignant moment as he dropped to his knees and pointed to the sky with both hands to celebrate his first goal since the death of his father, which was announced by his country’s football federation on 13 March.

But while an emotional Jimenez was warmly embraced by his teammates, several Clarets players were directing their focus and ire towards referee Chris Kavanagh over the validity of his stuttering technique.

Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, Burnley boss Scott Parker said: “Initially I was questioning the actual penalty decision.

“But then someone said you can’t step back[wards] on a penalty so I was questioning that – that you can’t step back[wards] on the run-up. The fourth [official] told me that’s not the case and that you can do that.”

Placing the ball on the penalty spot, Jimenez takes around 10 paces backwards and stands with his hands on his hips.

After taking two or three steps to his left, he begins his run-up, stuttering on the way to the spot before stroking his effort into the back of the net.

It is a familiar method and since overtaking Yaya Toure, who scored 11 from 11 penalties – it is one that means he can lay a claim to being the best penalty taker in Premier League history.

“He knows how to do it and he’s top. He’s so cool, so precise and that is the reason why he has the record,” Fulham manager Marco Silva told BBC Match of the Day.

“We are confident that when we get these moments he will score. He never stops completely, the last move when he decides to go, he goes and doesn’t stop.”

In truth it is not anything that we have not seen before.

John Aldridge, for example, scored 17 and missed one for Liverpool and a considerable number of the 52 out of 55 penalties (94.5%) he scored over his club and international career with the Republic of Ireland, were from a staggered run-up.

Mexico legend Hugo Sanchez has previously suggested that he deserves some credit for inventing the technique which forces the goalkeeper to make the first move and often hands the taker the advantage in their one-to-one duel.

Although the technique has no English name, Portuguese‑speaking nations call it the ‘Paradinha’. This translates as ‘little stop’ and Brazil forward Neymar has even attempted to use it from a free-kick.

It also cleverly bypasses Fifa rules that prevent a full stop at the end of a run-up.

This style is a legal variation because his faints and stutters occur during the run-up rather than the point of contact.

BBC Sport’s Football issues correspondent, Dale Johnson, said: “The act of feinting in the run-up on a penalty was made famous during Pele’s time as a player.

“Football’s lawmakers banned it for a short while, but in the mid 1980s it was reversed and we’re at where we are today.

“A player is allowed to stop or feint during the run-up as they wish – as long as they do not do it directly before they kick the ball.

“It’s controversial because it gives the striker another advantage, but it’s completely legal in law

“The only time VAR has ordered a retake for feinting was February 2018, when Tottenham defeated Rochdale in a fifth-round FA Cup replay and Son Heung-min was also booked.”

In 2010, Fifa called the paradinha penalty ‘unsporting’ and changed the laws around it but it still appears that many are not sure of what is allowed or not in this situation.

“That’s for the referees to talk about. I don’t want to say it’s allowed or not allowed,” Silva added.

“When it’s the last moment that he goes to the ball he doesn’t stop and until there he is allowed to do what he does.

List provided by data analysts Opta, external from players to have taken 10 plus Premier League penalties.

Raul Jimenez – 100% scored (14/14)

Yaya Toure – 100% scored (11/11)

Matt le Tissier – 96.2% scored (25/26)

Danny Murphy – 94.7% scored (18/19)

Callum Wilson – 94.1% scored (16/17)

James Beattie – 94.1% scored (16/17)

Julian Dicks – 93.8% scored (15/16)

Cole Palmer – 92.9% scored (13/14)

Bukayo Saka – 92.3% scored (12/13)

Hearts head coach Derek McInnes believes his side “will get stronger” for the Scottish Premiership run-in after victory over Dundee ensured the leaders will go into the international break still top of the pile.

Oisin McEntee’s header secured victory and a fourth consecutive 1-0 home league win for McInnes’ side, while welcoming back captain Lawrence Shankland and key midfielder Cammy Devlin for the first time since January.

Celtic had moved four points closer to Hearts with those two players absent, with Rangers also narrowing the gap.

But having done enough to ensure they move into April leading the way McInnes believes returning players strengthen his hand for the final seven games.

“I actually think the belief that I’ve got in the team is even more than it’s ever been, because I know what’s coming behind it,” McInnes said.

“I know what’s coming back for Livingston.

“I’ve got [Tomas] Magnusson, [Harry] Milne and [Craig] Halkett back, and I should have [Stuart] Findlay and [Stephen] Kingsley back.

“I’ve got my captain back now for another couple of weeks training, I’ve got Cammy Devlin back, I’ve got Beni Baningime back. We will get stronger, and we’re going to need that strength.

“We’ve been tested of late but despite all that, we’re going to be top of the league in April.

Before McEntee’s winner the biggest cheer of the day at Tynecastle was for Shankland coming on as a substitute in the 54th minute for Pierre Landry Kabore.

Despite missing six weeks, he is Hearts’ second-top scorer in the league this season with 11 and though he did not add to that against Dundee, his influence was clear.

He had more shots on goal than Kabore, and found the target more than Claudio Braga despite fewer minutes on the pitch.

He completed all seven of his passes into the final third and brought more composure to Hearts’ attack, allowing them to sustain pressure which eventually paid off.

Former Dundee striker Rory Loy pointed out on BBC Radio Scotland’s Sportsound Shankland’s return also brought more from Alexandros Kyziridis in the short time they were on together, with the Greek winger struggling a bit in his captain’s absence.

“In the 10-15 minutes they were on the park together, Kyziridis’ starting position was 10-15 yards higher up the pitch,” Loy said.

“He knows Shankland is going to win something. He set up the chance for Shankland when he turned and had the shot that was saved.

Managers often like to play down the influence of individuals, preferring to focus on the team as a whole.

But after the game McInnes did the complete opposite when asked about Shankland.

“Part of it is the lift he gives everybody,” the Hearts head coach said.

“We all feel the same about Lawrence. Every Hearts supporter, all his team-mates, all the staff, we feel so much better when he’s there.

“He’s a huge influence on our team. He’s been a huge influence on things even when he’s been out, he’s been a proper captain.

What was also refreshing for the Hearts manager was the nature of their winning goal, with McEntee’s towering header coming from a lovely Marc Leonard free-kick.

Hearts and Rangers have led the way for set-piece goals in the Premiership this season.

However, the league leaders have been less effective in that area in the past six weeks or so, despite getting plenty of corners and free-kicks.

The recent absence of Findlay, who tops the charts for headed goals in the league, may be a factor, as well as Shankland.

McEntee has also been struggling with a shoulder injury, but at over 6ft tall, made a timely return to potency in the box, as he showed in the win away at Celtic December.

With most of his squad due back in time for the Livingston game on 5 April, McInnes is demanding a return to their old standards.

“We spoke yesterday at the team meeting about – can we be the best team at set-plays between now and the end of the season?

“We’re off to a good start. Delighted for Ross [Grant], my set-piece coach, because it’s not been easy when the finger is being pointed.