The Spaniard has been ineffective for weeks and Leeds United are suffering as a result.
Just a few short weeks ago Leeds United looked certain to secure a play-off place in Garry Monk’s first year at the helm.
But things have gone downhill fast, with the Whites’ 2-1 defeat away to Burton Albion on Saturday all but ending their hopes of a top-six finish.
Optimistic Leeds fans will feel it can still be done, but with Fulham flying and Sheffield Wednesday desperate to make up for last year’s disappointment, the Whites have it all to do.
Among the possible reasons for Leeds’ freefall is Monk’s decision to pick certain players over others, while persisting with those who have simply not been performing in recent months.
One such player is Pablo Hernandez, who has started Leeds’ last eight matches with little to warrant his inclusion.
In that time Leeds have lost four and drawn two, and while there is no doubting the Spaniard’s quality when he is on form, that has rarely been seen at Elland Road since the turn of the year.
Monk has other alternatives, yet too often he persists with his apparent favourites, and at the end of the season it could be some of those baffling selections that lead to his downfall.
It would be foolish to slam Monk given the work he has done at Leeds in a short amount of time, but he needs to be braver at the business end of the campaign, dropping players regardless of their reputation and playing those who can and will assist in their promotion push.
Unfortunately for Hernandez and for Leeds, the summer signing is not currently one of them.
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