Pablo Hernandez’s recent form shows Leeds should hand him new contract

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Pablo Hernandez has been exceptional for Leeds United lately, inspiring the Whites back into the Championship play-offs.

Leeds have got themselves back into the play-off places in the Championship in recent weeks after a brilliant run of form that has seen Thomas Christiansen’s side win five of their last six games and lose just once since the end of the most recent international break.

A number of players have stepped up their games lately, but perhaps no player has proved as influential during that run as Pablo Hernandez, who returned to the starting lineup after the international break having been a more peripheral figure in the previous weeks.

The Spaniard has perhaps been enjoying his best run of form since arriving at Elland Road in the summer of 2016, and that may well leave Victor Orta with a decision to make in the coming weeks.

As reported by the Yorkshire Evening Post back in May, Hernandez is set to be out of contract at the end of the season – and when he was struggling for starts earlier in the campaign, it may have appeared that it was unlikely that he would earn another deal.

Now however, it surely makes sense to seriously consider handing the 32-year-old fresh terms as he continues to prove that he brings a huge amount of quality to the Leeds side.

He scored the winner against Hull just before Christmas, capitalising on Allan McGregor’s mistake to score the most delicious of chips – and he followed it up with another cracker in the win over Burton Albion on Boxing Day.

Leeds needed some inspiration after going behind at the Pirelli Stadium, and the playmaker provided it, scoring a wonderful free-kick to bring the Whites level before Kemar Roofe scored what would prove to be the winner just moments later.

Given his current form, it is surely fair to say that if Leeds are going to get themselves promoted this season, he is one of the players who could play a crucial role in getting them across the line – potentially providing those moments of magic that only a handful of members of the squad are really capable of on a regular basis.

And rewarding Hernandez with another one-year deal may be worthwhile as, while he may not be the long-term answer for Christiansen’s side, he is showing right now that he still has a huge amount to offer.