Why David Moyes should recall Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez vs Aston Villa

Javier Hernandez

Javier Hernandez

Just when things looked to be getting better for beleaguered champions Manchester United, the reality of the club’s current state reared its ugly head once more.

The heartening second leg comeback against Olympiakos to reach the Champions League quarter-finals held the promise of a turning point in David Moyes’ turbulent time at the helm.

Wayne Rooney’s double at Upton Park at the weekend lifted the Red Devils to victory once more with Robin van Persie on the treatment table, momentum seemingly building.

This coming ahead of the Manchester derby, no less. But it would all come crashing down as Old Trafford witnessed a thrashing at the hands of Manuel Pellegrini’s men on Tuesday.

Another false dawn it was – back to the drawing board for Moyes and company, as they say.

Aston Villa visit The Theatre of Dreams on Saturday as the reeling giants look for inspiration ahead of a daunting clash with Bayern Munich next week.

And with United on the ropes and in need of a spark, why not look to a forgotten old friend?

Javier Hernandez has seen limited exposure under the maligned new boss, just 584 minutes of football to his name this term – registering a paltry Performance Score of 86.

During this time the Mexican has netted just twice, feeling the effects of a lack of continuity, no doubt. But with van Persie out and Danny Welbeck no exactly a guiding light of late, it might just be the hour to set him loose up front for only his fifth start.

Amidst Hernandez’s rather abysmal statistical return to date stands one rather telling nugget.

The 25-year-old has hit the target with 82% of his shots on the campaign, leading the team in this area and far outpacing the likes of Rooney (51%), Welbeck (55%) and van Persie (48%).

With only 11 total attempts on goal to his name – nine troubling the goalkeeper – the sample size is relatively small, but the signs suggest that with steady chances, he will indeed hit the back of the net.

Don’t forget that Chicharito has been a thorn in Villa’s side before, as well. Last season in Birmingham he led United back from a 2-0 deficit to win 3-2 with a timely brace, completing 100% of his passes and memorably wreaking havoc on Paul Lambert’s charges.

Cirian Clark and Ron Vlaar, who partnered in central defence on that November 2012 evening, will likely do so again against United on Saturday lacking fond memories of Hernandez’s exploits.

The Mexico international can provide that clinical opportunistic element that Welbeck – his greatest competition to lead the line – can’t offer.

And that unpredictability, matched with the hunger Hernandez should have given a dearth of minutes, may well be exactly what United need to return to winning ways at Villa’s expense.

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