Slaven Bilic has suggested that Javier Hernandez may have to ‘sacrifice’ himself to continue to play an unfamiliar position for West Ham.
If Slaven Bilic continues to use Javier Hernandez in a wide role, then the question has to be asked: why did West Ham United sign him?
Hernandez was West Ham’s marquee capture over the summer transfer window, and his quality has already been clear to see.
The Mexican has shown his poacher’s instinct to score twice in a West Ham shirt to date.
But, more recently, he has been used out wide – and Bilic has suggested that partnering the former Manchester United man with Andy Carroll isn’t in his plans.
And if Hernandez is to be used out wide regularly, then West Ham may have been better off signing another winger instead.
Hernandez is a wonderful striker, but out wide he is wasted. The 29-year-old is not a creator, nor is he a player who can threaten defenders through skill.
If Bilic does not use Hernandez as a number nine, then he will never get the best out of the forward – and if the Croatian did want a wide-man, then surely a natural in the position would have been a better option.
It leaves question marks over West Ham’s most exciting signing of the summer. And although Hernandez remains a high profile capture, unless Bilic can find a way to fit him into the Hammers’ team in his most familiar position, he may become a wasted signing.
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