Hernandez was playing the final game of his loan spell in Leeds United’s win over Rotherham.
Leeds United’s first-half display against Rotherham may have been some way short of the standards that Garry Monk has expected since his arrival in the summer, but they stepped through several gears in the second-half to claim a 3-0 win at Elland Road. And one of the key reasons why the Whites eventually claimed the three points was the performance of Pablo Hernandez.
The clash against the Millers was the final game of the 31-year-old’s loan spell with the Championship side (via Yorkshire Evening Post). And based on the statistics, the Spaniard sent the perfect message to the Leeds hierarchy that a permanent deal is a must if it is not sorted already.
Leeds United’s Pablo Hernandez
| Assists | Accurate crosses | Tackles won | Accurate passes | Duels won | Total dribbles | Successful dribbles | Touches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pablo Hernández | 1 | 1 | 1 | 65 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 109 |
After a difficult first-half for the former Swansea City man – Monk had deployed the playmaker in a slightly deeper role to accommodate Kemar Roofe, who has excelled in the number 10 role recently – a return to attacking midfield after the interval enabled Hernandez to, once again, make a major impact on the game.
It was Hernandez’s corner that led to the opening goal as his brilliant ball towards the back post found Kyle Bartley, who gladly accepted the opportunity to break the deadlock.
Leeds United’s Kyle Bartley (L) scores their first goal
He proved a thorn in Rotherham’s side for much of the game, contributing four successful dribbles from six attempts, while also winning one tackle and six duels.
However, it is perhaps his passing statistics that are the most impressive aspect of Hernandez’s performance. No Leeds player bettered his total of 65 accurate passes, which surely deserves a huge amount of credit given that his role means that he is often attempting adventurous balls to try and unlock the opposition defence and create openings for his teammates.
The Yorkshire Evening Post reported that Leeds have already lined up a permanent switch for Hernandez, and after watching his display against Rotherham, Monk will surely be hoping that the deal is wrapped up as soon as possible.
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