Javier Hernandez

When Javier Hernandez, a 21-year-old Mexican playing for Guadalajara, signed for Manchester United in April 2010 for a fee worth around £7million, I was sceptical to say the least.

Sir Alex Ferguson is, without question, a genius and one of the best managers around at nurturing young talent but even he is susceptible to bringing in players who struggle to cut it at the top level.

However, Hernandez has perhaps turned out to be one of Ferguson's greatest ever buys. It may be a bold statement considering the Mexican has played less than one season in the Premier League but it is a season which has seen him score 17 goals in 35 games, with 17 of those appearances coming from the bench.

Hernandez has been a revelation for Manchester United this season

Not only is it his ability to score which has impressed, but also the knack he has of scoring crucial, match winning goals.

Take the match at Stoke City back in October for example. It was a game which United had to win to keep up with Chelsea at the top-of-the-table, and it also came at the end of a week where Wayne Rooney had said he wanted to leave the club, only to sign a new contract two days later.

Hernandez was handed a rare start for the game and he took his chance with no hesitation. His two goals emphasising his class and ability when in the penalty area.

It was his first goal which was particularly memorable. The backwards header that displayed his quickness of thinking and fantastic ability to improvise on the spot. His second goal, and winner four minutes from time, may have been less impressive but again showed aptitude and knack of being in the right place at the right time. Emphasising the fact that he is a natural born goalscorer.

Hernandez showing superb improvisation to give United the lead at Stoke.

Them two goals may prove vital in United's season as well as the other 15 he has scored. The stats aren't bad either. Hernandez has 11 goals from a ridiculous 15 shots on target with an average of a goal every 103 minutes in the Premier League - the best for any player who has scored more than 10 goals.

What makes Hernandez so good is his reading of the game. His ability to anticipate where to run and where to position himself is something which very few strikers posses. It's all well and good getting yourself in the right place and the right time, a trait which is unquestionably the key to good forward play, but it's only half the story. You need to be able to remain composed when the ball arrives to your feet and to then have the presence of mind to know where to place the ball. It is all of these attributes that makes Hernandez a natural goal scorer.

His attitude is also something which is admired greatly by players and fans alike. He always plays with a smile on his face, keeping his head down and letting his football do the talking.

It's still too early to know exactly how far Hernandez can go with his career but if the little Mexican can continue the way he has started then he will undoubtedly become a United legend.