Just over three and a half years ago, Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez was scoring the goal for Real Madrid that sent them into the Champions League semi-finals at the expense of city rivals, Atletico.
Having enjoyed great success whilst at Manchester United, his time on loan from them at Los Blancos was another feather in his cap, but just 36 short months later everything is remarkably different for the Mexican.
Not even a starring role for his country at the World Cup in Russia seems to have stopped the rot at club level.Before joining current club, West Ham United, the ‘Little Pea’ also enjoyed another fruitful spell in front of goal in Germany, and 28 goals in 54 appearances for Bayer Leverkusen was enough to tempt the east Londoners into parting with £16 million for his services.
Two goals in his second game in a 3-2 loss against Southampton did nothing to dispel the notion that the Hammers had got themselves a striker with a genuine eye for goal and at a bargain price.
However, whilst on international duty, Hernandez sustained a hamstring injury and by the time he was fit again, David Moyes had taken over from Slaven Bilic in the West Ham hot-seat.
Though the Scot was never anything but complimentary about the player in public, he didn’t give him as many starts as would’ve been expected for a ‘first choice’ player.
Now, with Manuel Pellegrini at the helm, Chicharito looks like a busted flush.
Marko Arnautovic is the go-to centre forward, and with Felipe Anderson being bought for a club record fee, even with his own form not the best at present, there’s simply no way that he will be benched.
Indeed, if Hernandez’s performance against Tottenham in the cup in midweek is anything to go by, it’s easy to understand why the Chilean is keeping him out of the first team picture in any event.
Out of form as well as out of shape, he’s only had five shots on target this season in the 236 minutes he’s played in 2018/19, resulting on no goals.
The all-time record goalscorer for his national side, despite only just turning 30, his time in east London is rapidly coming to an end.
Given the associated lack of confidence which comes with not getting enough minutes on the pitch, it’s hard to see any other high-profile sides taking a chance on a player whose career is on a downward curve.
Time’s up.
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