Chicharito’s last stand

“The impact Sir Alex has had on me is massive,” admitted the striker recently.

“He gave me this big chance to play at the biggest club in the world. He has taught me a lot and I only have thankful words for him. I have won two league titles in three years and played in the Champions League final.

“Of course I would love to start more often but I will keep the same attitude. When the gaffer wants me on the bench or the starting line-up I will do my best. My attitude is going to be very good because I want to respect the club.”

Not one to rock the boat, Hernández is unlikely to push for a transfer this summer, but with the debt of loyalty to Ferguson now broken, and the ties to the club not as strong as they once were, no longer is it unthinkable that the Little Pea may move on.

Moreover, with David Moyes typically preferring a single-striker system, Hernández will likely see no increase in match time under the new manager than he has in the past three seasons.

After all, van Persie is a prerequisite leading the line, while Chicharito is really only effective playing ahead of a deeper-lying partner. It means the Mexican is always likely to be the Dutchman’s understudy if Moyes repeats the tactical system deployed at Goodison Park, where Marouane Fellaini was deployed deep behind Nikica Jelavi?.

Even if Rooney departs this summer, it is Japanese playmaker Shinji Kagawa, who is desperate for an opportunity in his natural role at no. 10, that will likely benefit the most.

In this, Hernández suffers for being the least flexible of United’s front four; a natural finisher usurped by those who offer a more rounded contribution. It is a developmental waypoint that outgoing manager Ferguson identified as the campaign came to a close.

“I hope he feels he’s made a contribution because we all feel he’s done that,” said Ferguson.

“His enthusiasm is always there and there’s no reason to think that this isn’t the place for him. Maturity also finds players every summer and he’s old enough to mature, obviously.”

Certainly, the player has become more confident in his contrition outside the box in three years at Old Trafford. He transformed from a player who often tried too hard by coming deep, to one that successfully finds his team-mate with 77 per cent of passes in opponent’s half.

But it is with 18 goals in all competitions this season that Hernández’ contributed most, whatever the growth in his game. Moyes is surely going to loathe to forego a player who scored key goals against SC Braga, Chelsea, Aston Villa, Newcastle and Swansea City during the campaign.

And at just 72 minutes per Premier League goal, Hernández boasts by far the best rate of any player to have scored 10 or more during the league season. It is a record that should prompt the new manager to eke at least one more season out of the Mexican, whatever the temptations on offer from clubs abroad.