Manchester United saw their goalpoaching striker net twice in their 5-0 demolition of Wolves, his 11th and 12th goals of the season.
In this reactionary knee-jerk age of the internet, a striker has only to go one or two games without a goal and fans are worrying about them being out of form.
I’ve read a couple of pieces on other sites in the past couple of months, suggesting that Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez has been ‘found out’ after his stunning first season.
Having followed the Mexican’s progress this season and last, I strongly disagree, and his goal tally stands up.
In his first season his impact was superb, scoring 20 goals to help United to their 19th Premier League title.
But it seemed even better than it was, because it was his first season- and caught many off guard, although those who saw his exploits in the 2010 World Cup were not surprised.
This season, instead of being a regular starter which many expected him to, he has been rotated with United striker Danny Welbeck making the first team breakthrough.
But last year he was also rotated, making 12 appearances off the bench, with Dimitar Berbatov then joining Wayne Rooney ahead of him in the pecking order.
By last May, Hernandez had seen off Berbatov to become a first choice starter, which is why now some observers believe he has made a backwards step, going back to a rotational basis with Danny Welbeck.
This is in my view an unfair criticism, as Welbeck’s emergence has no bearing on Hernandez’s ability or development individually; as a home grown player who has paid his dues out on loan, Welbeck was always going to get chances, and took them with both hands.
Hernandez handed Welbeck the baton inadvertently when he suffered a concussion in one of United’s pre-season games, and has also had to contend with further injuries stunting his season, away at Stoke in September, and at Villa Park in December, each causing him to spend more than a fortnight out on the sidelines.
So while it has been a difficult season for him to gain momentum, the man who wears Chicharito on the back of his shirt has continued to score consistently.
One month ago we ran an article detailing how his crucial goals have directly won United nine points in the league, scoring winners away to Swansea and Everton in October, and netting three equalisers away to Chelsea and Liverpool and at home to Newcastle, all crucially important goals against sides in the top half of the Premier League table.
The standards of these opposition alone should tell you that he certainly not been ‘found out’ as one website put it.
His 11th and 12th goals of the campaign, clinically finished at Molineux yesterday, albeit against a woeful Wolves side, were testament to the fact he remains as clinical as last season.
Any criticism of Hernandez’ game stems from his style of play, as a goal poacher his effort often goes unnoticed if he is not scoring, while his edgy movement keeping the defences on toes can result in a number of offside decisions being given against him.
If anyone expected him to be a first choice striker this year then they were mistaken. Wayne Rooney is United’s number one striker, and Danny Welbeck has demanded chances through his own form, which flourished during Hernandez’ injuries.
In the league last year 13 of his 20 goals were in the Premier League, and this year his league goals make up 10 of his 12 so far.
Last season his scoring rate in the league was one goal every 114 minutes, and this year it is one goal every 124 minutes. Found out? Hardly.
Given the fact he has not started more than three consecutive league games this season, and this only occurred once, he remains as lethal as ever. He will have a big say still in this year’s title race, and don’t rule out him even reaching 20 by the end of the season if he is given the opportunities.
image: © eschipul
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