David Moyes explains why he didn’t start West Ham United’s Javier Hernandez against Stoke City

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West Ham United could only pick up a 1-1 draw with Stoke City yesterday.

David Moyes has told the London Evening Standard that the reason he didn’t start Javier Hernandez for West Ham United against Stoke City was because he didn’t want to change system.

Hernandez came off the bench to score an equaliser against Chelsea last week, and still looks like the most natural finisher in the Hammers’ squad.

However, the Mexican international was left on the substitutes’ bench until late on against Stoke, much to many Hammers’ fans’ frustration.

West Ham could only pick up a 1-1 draw with the Potters, with Moyes’ tactics being criticised.

However, the Scottish boss has defended his decision to leave out Hernandez.

He said: “Some people have asked me why I did not start with Chicharito and Marko Arnautovic up front against Stoke.

“My answer is that our form in the previous two games, against Southampton and then Chelsea, had been good with one striker and my concern was that we needed creative players to make the chances.”

There are now some concerns over Hernandez’s future at West Ham, beyond this season.

The £16 million signing from Bayer Leverkusen has not started particularly regularly since Moyes took charge.

Hernandez has eight goals to his name this season in 26 Premier League appearances.

West Ham are next in action at the weekend, when they take on Arsenal, but Hernandez looks likely to be left on the bench again.