Phil Hay: Hernandez unlikely to get much more game-time for Leeds
Pablo Hernandez is unlikely to get much game-time for Leeds United between now and the end of the season, according to The Athletic’s Phil Hay.
Hernandez, 35, has started just twice in the Premier League since helping the Whites win promotion last season and has been linked with a summer move away from Elland Road when he enters the final year of his £19,000-a-week [Spotrac] contract.
Ex-Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Hay has previously reported that he expects Hernandez to move on at the end of the season.
And before then, it’s unlikely he’ll play much football for Marcelo Bielsa.
Writing on The Athletic website, Hay said: “t’s increasingly hard to think that he will get a sustained run again. The squad is evolving and changing which, sad to say, is a fact of life in football. That’s how it goes. Time catches up with everyone.”
It’s going to be a sad day
Hernandez will go down as a Leeds United legend once his days at Elland Road are up.
Since joining the Whites on an initial loan deal in 2016, the former Spain international has gone on to make 172 appearances in all competitions for the Yorkshire club, scoring 36 goals and supplying 41 assists in the process.
Hernandez has arguably been Leeds’ best player since their relegation from the Premier League in 2004 and played a massive, massive role in helping them return to the top-flight.
He was superb under previous managers like Garry Monk, Thomas Christiansen and Paul Heckingbottom but really shone for Bielsa in the Championship.
Unfortunately, time waits for no man and it’s caught up with Hernandez, who’s had several injury issues this season as well as a clear drop in form that has seen him struggle to keep up with the demands of the Premier League.
He was missing against West Ham on Monday night due to a muscle injury [Adam Pope] and it remains to be seen how serious that is.
Hopefully, it’s not too serious because we want to see Hernandez as much as possible between now and his expected summer exit.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites have sounded out a possible deal for this English goal machine.