Emile Heskey claims Javier Hernandez starting from the get-go ‘doesn’t suit’ West Ham United

Follow us on Google Discover

West Ham United needed late goals to beat Huddersfield Town last time out.

Emie Heskey has claimed that it ‘doesn’t suit’ West Ham if striker Javier Hernandez is starting games following his brace during his side’s 4-3 win over Huddersfield on Saturday.

The 30-year-old came on as a second-half substitute to inspire his team to victory after they found themselves 3-1 down to the Premier League’s bottom-of-the-table club after 65 minutes.

After Angelo Ogbonna had pulled a goal back, Hernandez scored two goals in the final seven minutes, in a typical poachers fashion to secure all three points for Manuel Pellegrini’s side.

Speaking to Match Centre on Sky Sports News (18/03/2019 at 12:35 pm), former England striker Heskey stated that the Hammers player is better suited to coming off the bench and showcasing his talent.

“I think this role [coming off the bench] probably suits him,” Heskey told Sky Sports News. “He an out-and-out goalscorer. He knows how to find the back of the net. That’s all he loves doing.

“It doesn’t suit West Ham from the start of the game, but coming on where they create chances when people are getting tired as well. Some players just suit that role and he’ll know how to make an impact as well.”

Throughout Hernandez’s career, whether it be on the international stage, during his Premier League title-winning days at Manchester United or now at West Ham, he has always been a fox in the box.

All of his Premier League goals – 52 in 153 matches [transfermarkt] – have come from inside the penalty area, which further indicates the problems he can cause with just pure movement and instinct.

Nonetheless, for West Ham, he has played 22 league matches this term, starting 12 of those matches, scoring seven goals and supplying three assists along the way.

At this moment in time, Pellegrini’s side are sitting in the Premier League’s top 10 and the London club will be hoping to end the season on a high once the players return from the international break.