David Moyes can consider himself blessed by the fact ‘the smiling assassin’ is following in the famed footsteps of the man once known as ‘the baby faced assassin’.
Never a regular starter...never a moaner...never a man to let you down; Javier Hernandez is proving every bit as popular as Manchester United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Every bit as effective too when stepping positively off the bench (as he did on Saturday) or when given a rare starting berth (as he was last night).
Hernandez was the match winner against Stoke at the weekend, and he made it four goals in five games with a brace in last night’s Capital One Cup victory over Norwich.
The Mexican magician has made a late claim for consideration in the PFA Fans’ Player of the Month voting which closes tomorrow night.
After his latest goalscoring heroics, United assistant manager Steve Round said: "Javier Hernandez is such a good character. I don't think his lack of first team action this season has fazed him at all.
“He is a really infectious character who loves to score goals. He has waited patiently for his opportunities and when he gets them he has taken them."
Hernandez has scored 34 goals in 81 league appearances for United (54 in 125 in all competitions) since moving to Old Trafford from Guadalajara in 2010.
He has become a firm favourite with the United faithful who admire him, not just for his goals but his attitude and the fact he never lets his stop-start career wipe that wonderful smile off his face.
Another young United talent with the ‘smile factor’ is Adnan Januzaj who, like Hernandez, was instrumental in the recent victories over Stoke and Norwich.
Moyes believes his slender build belies a ferocious competitive instinct and a desire to prove that brilliance will triumph over brute force more often than not.
Moyes said: "If ever there was a boy who can take it, it will be him. You just hope the referees give him the correct protection, and I'm sure they will, but he won't be moaning about it.
“He's a great lad and he'll bounce up and get on with it. You can kick him as hard as you like and it won't affect him. I’m sure has a great future with us.”
Have Hernandez and Januzaj done enough to put themselves in with a shout for PFA Fans’ Player of the Month? You decide.
Source: DSG
