When I find myself in times of trouble, Chicharito scores for me. Javier Hernandez, Little Pea, Little Pea.
If you’re singing that to the tune of Let It Be by The Beatles, it’s obvious you’re not a Manchester United, West Ham United, or Mexico fan. But still, you can’t deny, that’s a cracking chant.
It should be ringing out a bit louder tonight after the forward struck for the Hammers in their Friday night Premier League game against Fulham.
Hernandez got the most slitherest of headers against Fulham to equalise, just before the half-hour mark after Ryan Babel had full the visitors ahead at the London Stadium.
Incredibly, that marks the striker’s 200th career goal. An incredible feat for one of the most effective marksmen of the past decade.
Mexico international Herrnandez was introduced to English pastures back in 2010, signalling a remarkable coup for Sir Alex Ferguson with an extraordinarily meagre £6 million transfer fee from Guadalajara, where he had scored 39 goals.
At Man Utd, Little Pea immediately asserted himself as a purchase to be proud of with a brilliant goal in his debut in the Community Shield against Chelsea, helping to produce a 3-1 win and meaning Man Utd claimed their 18th victory for the prize, and Hernandez a place in Red Devils’ hearts.
He would go on to score 59 goals in a five-year spell at Man Utd before finally falling out of favour in the Louis van Gaal era, moving first on loan to Real Madrid, sensationally (a nine goal return), then having something of a resurgence in the Bundesliga at Bayer Leverkusen.
Hernandez returned to England with West Ham, being bought for £16million in July 2017. His return so far has brought 14 goals, his latest against Fulham marking his second century at career level.
