Donald completes miraculous turnaround

Luke Donald became world number one on Monday after his victory in BMA PGA Championship at Wentworth, an astonishing thought given where he was a year ago.

A string of consistent performances have seen him gradually rise in the ranking. It all began in the Fedex Cup last year when he was narrowly pipped to the $10million prize by Jim Furyk, before producing the best golf at a remarkable and unforgettable Ryder Cup.

The 33-year-old continued his impressive form at the start of this year, winning the WCG matchplay, before finishing tied fourth in the Masters, and then coming runner-up to Ian Poulter in the second World Matchplay event.

His consistency is summed up with this one stat - Donald has finished in the top 10 in 14 of the last 15 events. A staggering and brilliant statistic.

It's difficult to pinpoint exactly where and how Donald has improved so dramatically in such a short space of time.

Luke Donald has undoubtedly been the best player on the planet in 2011. His silky smooth swing never causes him to be off balance and rarely does he hit a wayward shot. 

He has the all round game to someday win a major, there can be little doubt of that. Probably the current best putter in the game, Donald has displayed some incredible golf in recent months. Having won the matchplay without being behind is a remarkable achievement.

Many attributes make up a top class golfer but perhaps the most important is putting.  It's the one area where Donald has improved. He rarely misses, in fact it's more rare for Fernando Torres to score a goal than for Luke Donald to miss within ten feet.

The calmness and composure of the man is another noticeable and major factor in his rise up the rankings. Rarely does Donald show any emotion. He quietly gets on with the job while others fret and panic around him. Even when he was making serene progress  up the leaderboard on the last day of the Masters, there was little emotion. Only when he chipped in for birdie on the last did he react with a fist pump or two.

In the past, that absence of emotion has been mistaken for a lack of passion or willingness to win and succeed. But it's the type of guy he is. Comes across as laid back whereas in fact he's a passionate, hard-working golfer, who's desperate to succeed at the highest level.

The achievement of getting to world number one is even more remarkable given the modern game. It's becoming more about the big hitters, something which Donald is certainly not. He plots his way around the course, playing to his strengths and working out the best way to go about things.

Donald proves that you don't have to be a long hitter to succeed. As proved by the fact that he has played par 5s third best out of everyone on the PGA Tour this season.

Now he is number one, it's time for the ultimate goal - a major. He has the game and mentality to do it. To win a major you have to remain calm and composed and not get ruffled when the going gets tough. You also need that grit and determination to see yourself through that inevitable bad round.

Donald has these attributes in abundance, and he proved that during his PGA Championship win. He was far from his best but time and time again, he got himself out of trouble, displaying the steely grit and will to win needed to claim the top prizes.

And he didn't bottle it when it mattered. Playing the play-off hole against the number one golfer at the time, Lee Westwood, he produced four immaculate shots to birdie the hole and win the competition.

Now he has to bring all parts of his game together in a major championship, only then will he be remembered as a true great.

Donald has achieved an awful lot and, at 33, still has time to really impose himself into the golfing history books. There's no doubt he has the temperament and the game to win a major, but, as proved with Lee Westwood, it is never easy winning that first one.

How to beat the mighty Barcelona

There are easier tasks than this. Finding a way to beat one of the best teams ever to walk onto a football pitch is not easy but Sir Alex Ferguson and his Manchester United team must find a way of doing that if they are to lift the European Cup at Wembley.

These are my propositions providing everyone is fit and available. 

First things first, United win the defensive battle. If Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic are fit then that will be a huge boost. United have only conceded four goals all competition, half than Barca, so there's already reason to be in confident mood.

But here's the conundrum: How do you stifle that Barcelona midfield but attack them at the same time.

The best way to get at Barcelona is down the wings with pace, so I would definitely start Antonio Valencia on the right. His pace, crossing, dribbling ability, defensive work and finishing would cause any team problems.

On the left I'd have Park Ji Sung, purely for his tenacity and longevity. He can harry and hassle that Barcelona midfield all night long while others take advantage of the space that it creates. Park did this supremely well in the first leg against Chelsea and it proved vital.

The dilemma left is who and how many you play in central midfield to stem that unbelievably strong Barca midfield as well as having enough players to go forward and create chances for yourself. 

You can attack....

One way to go about it would be to sacrifice a central midfielder and play Rooney off Hernandez with Giggs and Carrick in the middle. This may be a risky strategy against a team with Barcelona's prowess in midfield but it would give United more attacking options, something which Arsenal suffered badly from when they played Barcelona in the Nou Camp. 

In that game, Robin Van Persie was completely stranded up front and had very little support from the Arsenal midfield, thus allowing Barcelona to take control and continue to attack wave after wave. With Rooney playing behind Hernandez, you would not have the same problem because Rooney would act as the linkup man between the midfield and attack.

The problem this leaves, though, is the vulnerability of the midfield. When you have the likes of Lionel Messi, Xavi and Andres Iniesta up against you, you need all the midfielders you can get. However, Arsenal used a similar lineup to this at the Emirates and it paid off as they won the game 2-1, albeit courtesy of some wayward Barcelona finishing. 

If you were to play this team then the key would be to score first and take a lead into the second half where you can then use your replacements to hold onto that lead. 

My bench would be: Kuszack, O'Shea, Smalling, Fletcher, Scholes, Anderson, Berbatov. If United were leading on the hour mark then I would bring Fletcher on for Hernandez and play a five-man midfield with Rooney up top on his own. I'd also be inclined to bring the anergy of Anderson on for Giggs.

Or you can pack the midfield and sit back...

I think this strategy would prove successful in preventing Barcelona's making forward progress. The energy and tenacity of Fletcher, Anderson and Park would stifle that midfield but the problem you have is who would support Rooney up front.


If you were to do this then I'd also consider to perhaps start Nani ahead of Park, purely for his attacking outlet and ability to create something out of nothing. But his lack of defensive qualities would count against him.

This choice of lineup would force you to flood the bench with attacking options, the likes of Berbatov and Hernandez would have to be there.


My choice...


My starting XI would be somewhere in the middle, you need the energy in the midfield but you can't afford not to have an attacking outlet. The other key decision is who to start at right back; John O'Shea or Rafael Da Silva. I'd edge towards O'Shea, purely for his experience.

I also feel that Giggs has to start. He maybe getting on a bit but a man with two Champions League's winners medals cannot be left out. He was the star of the show against Chelsea and the United midfield can look lost without him. I'd start him behind Rooney so he can play the free role, linking up between the striker and midfield.

Bench: Kuzsack, Smalling, Fabio, Anderson, Scholes, Nani, Hernandez. 


Having conceded four less goals than Barcelona in the competition and gone unbeaten so far, there are plenty of encouraging signs for United fans as we look ahead to  a European Cup final against the mighty Barcelona at Wembley. And it does not get better than that.

Wayne Rooney - The most complete footballer on the planet

According to some people, Wayne Rooney is having a bad season. He has 14 goals and 12 assists, he has a better minutes-to-goal/assist ratio than he did last season, where he scored 34 goals in 44 games, and he has been a vital cog Manchester United's title run-in and European charge.

Rooney has been superb in recent weeks, I'd go as far to say that he's produced the best football on the planet in the last month, even better than the magical Lionel Messi or the mesmeric Cristiano Ronaldo.

They are three players who you cannot compare because they're all too different. What sets Rooney apart are his defensive qualities. It's a part of his game that perhaps explains the reason why he is rarely mentioned as being the best player on the planet.

Others prefer the magic of Messi or the sheer brilliance of Ronaldo. Rooney, though, is a natural footballer. You could put him in any position of the pitch and he'd be good enough to play at the highest level. Could you do this with Ronaldo or Messi? Never.

In my view, Rooney has been more influential in United's season this year than last. He has added an extra-dimension with his ability to drop deep and play the free role. His partnership with Hernandez has been a pleasure to watch because they work perfectly together and compliment each other like a jigsaw puzzle.

Rooney's return to top form has been largely due to his re-poisitioning and partnership with Hernandez, which has the potential to become the most feared attacking threat in the world.

They have such a great understanding. Both work hard and give everything to the team, meaning they are always working hard for each other and rarely do they find themselves on the wrong wavelength. Hernandez is similar to Owen in many ways, except he's stronger and better in the air, something which plays into Rooney's hands.

His role of playing behind Hernandez suits Rooney down to the ground. It allows him to run riot and play where he likes. He can express himself, picking up the ball from deep and driving at the defence or producing a raking ball. His passing ability is hardly ever talked about despite it being world class.

His vision is a freak of nature. He can spot and then produce the most wonderful pass with just a quick glance. His performance in the Champions League first leg at Schalke was magnificent. Time and time again he picked the ball up in between the midfield and Hernandez and picked out an exquisite ball to either Antonio Valencia or Hernandez.

The first goal was all Rooney's making. He collected the ball midway through the Schalke half, powered towards the defence with intent before side-stepping an opponent and sliding in a sublime pass to Ryan Giggs who finished. And then, just two minutes later, he showed the other part of his game. His movement and finishing. Hernandez and Rooney linked up well which resulted in Rooney receiving the ball in space in the penalty area and cooly finishing into the bottom corner.

In just these two instances you can understand just how a complete and wonderful player he is. He has a wonderful football brain as well, always capable of picking out the right pass or taking the right option.

He seems to be happier in recent weeks too. The enjoyment and and satisfaction of playing football is back, it's something which plays a big role in how well Rooney performs. He loves the game of football but he has a very short fuse and recent events in his life has taken all the fun out of his football. Now that's it's back, the world should fear Wayne Rooney.

The enjoyment is back in Wayne Rooney's football. He produces a rare smile before going to congratulate the supplier for the second goal in United's victory over Schalke.

The two chalkboards below highlight perfectly how Rooney's role has changed from last season to this and how it benefits the team more. Last year, Rooney was the main striker. He scored plenty of goals but in doing so the team suffered as a lot of his other attributes went to waste. Scoring goals was obviously key to the team but this season he has assisted and created many more goals for other players. As a result the team has benefited as a whole.

On the left you see Rooney's passing from the home win over Everton last week. You can see that he made a lot of passes, this was because he picked the ball up from deep and used his superb vision and technique to pick out a pass. On the right is United's home win over West Ham last season. In this game Rooney made a measly 23 passes compared to the 74 he made against Everton, showing the difference from last season to this.

Rooney in recent months has played in the position where United have struggled for quality over the past 18 months. The position behind the strikers where you link up play between the midfield and attack. These players are usually terrific passers with an immaculate first touch as well as a goalscoring ability. Rooney in a nutshell. This is what United lacked last season.

Of course, the arrival of Hernandez has made a massive difference. Not only are the Mexican's goals crucial but his positioning and the runs he makes allows Rooney to drop deeper and play in that role where more can be made of his ability. Here, he can pull the strings and play the defence splitting passes, a skill which very few players in the world possess.

His goal tally shouldn't be affected by this role either. It makes him even more dangerous when he's making them late, threatening runs into the penalty area, making it almost impossible to pick him up.

Add the touches of brilliance to his season and you really begin to understand the value of Rooney. The glorious overhead kick winner against rivals Manchester City was one but the magical hat-trick against West Ham was even better. The one thing that Rooney cannot be accused of choking in the big games. He always stands up and produces his best when the team most need it.

Rooney's displaying his brilliance with a glorious overhead kick to win the Manchester derby in February. 

What else that has to be admired about Rooney is his willingness to defend and help out his teammates. Almost every time he loses the ball, Rooney will chase back and be determined to win it back. The desire and hunger of the man cannot be questioned, however this can sometimes be mistaken for arrogance or petulance.

He's hardly a clean character, always seeming to be in the headlines for one thing or another but the main reason for this is not his anger or hate, but his desire and desperation to impress and play well. He easily gets frustrated, it's not a bad thing to have because without it he wouldn't be the same player.

Rooney is the most complete player of his generation. Sublime to watch and a managers dream. He's everywhere on the pitch, and could probably play in any position you want. He gives everything to the team for every minute of every game. He may not score as many as Ronaldo or Messi but if I had a choice between the three, I'd pick Wayne Rooney every single time.

End of season awards

The 2010/11 Premier League season has been one to savour. The standard at the top of the league may have fallen but it's not stopped the excitement, passion and tension of every Premier League weekend.

In previous years we've had standout performers - the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Steven Gerrard and Ruud Van Nistelrooy - but the same cannot be said for this year. It's been a year where several players have stood out and produced some brilliant performances but there is no obvious winner for player of the season. Here are my awards:

My contenders:

Van Der Vaart - An incredible piece of business from Harry Redknapp having bought the Dutchman for £8million on transfer deadline day. Van Der Vaart has 12 goals this season and with his ability to link up play between attack and midfield, he has been key to Tottenham's season. Without him they wouldn't even be close to the top four.

Luis Nani - A remarkable exclusion from the PFA POTY but he gets the recognition he deserves in my list. The fact that he's been the most influential player for the side currently six points clear in the Premier League says it all. With 18 assists and nine goals, Nani is having a tremendous season. His pace and trickery have been too much for many defenders. He can be frustrating and petulant at times but that shouldn't count against him when looking at his technical ability, something which he has a lot off.

Scott Parker - If West Ham stay up this season then it'll be almost single-handedly down to Scott Parker. An inspirational leader on and off the pitch. His desire, will and sheer guts to produce his best and all for the team cannot be matched elsewhere in the league. He had plenty of talent as well, harrying and hassling player. Closing them down from all angles, preventing opponents from gaining further ground.

Kevin Nolan - Rather surprising to me that he's not been mentioned for an award this season. Another player for whom his team would be not where they are now without. He has 12 goals from midfield and is another authoritative, in-your-face leader who will give everything to his side.

Leighton Baines - Again another one who has seemed to escape all the attention. Baines has had a wonderful season. His mazy dribbles upfield have seen him rack up 11 assists and score four goals. He also has a wicked left foot, taking a large amount of set pieces for his side with his ability to whip in crosses which frighten defenders. He could perhaps tighten up defensively but there's no doubt in my mind that he has been a top performer this year.

Vincent Kompany - A reliable defender and a rock for Manchester City this season. Defenders rarely get the credit they deserve and Kompany is a perfect example. All the talk has been about Silva or Tevez but Kopmany has held City's season together. He makes so few mistakes, just sits in the defence, seeing out any danger while happy to come forward with the ball. The fact that City have the second best defensive record in the league is testament to the dogged and determination of Kompany.

Joint winners  - Kompany & Nani
Second - Van Der Vaart

Other worthy mentions - Nemanja Vidic, David Silva, Carlos Tevez, Luka Modric, Raul Meireles and Samir Nasri.



Young POTY nominations:

Jack Wilshere (19) - Wilshere has made gigantic strides this year. He's stepped up into Arsenal's first team at the start of the season and hasn't looked back since. The key to Wilshere's impressive season has been his composure in the midfield. Being able to control the play with some key interceptions before creating attacking chances for his own side with his sweet left foot.

Javier Hernandez (22) - Hernandez could arguably be a contender for the main award after a stunning first season in the Premier League. He has 12 goals and the best minutes-to-goal ratio for any player who has ten goals or more. The movement and pace has caused panic to defences across Europe and, at 22, he will only continue to improve.

Andy Carroll (22) - It's very much been a season of two halves for the England man. He was outstanding for Newcastle, scoring 11 goals before he picked up an injury in Janurary and moved to Liverpool. Since, he hasn't been the same as he looks off the pace but still managed a brace against Man City to showcase the huge potential he has.

Winner - Javier Hernandez

Best buy

Best buy - Javier Hernandez (£7million) - Very tight call between him and Rafael Van Der Vaart but the Dutchman's knack of picking up niggling injuries as well as the age difference just gives Hernandez the edge. His incredible ability to read the play and be in the right place at the right time has brought him 12 goals in just his first season in England.



Other awards:


Most improved player - Luis Nani


Ones to watch next year - Tom Cleverly, Danny Welbeck, Phil Jones and Jack Rodwell.


Manager of the year - Owen Coyle


Team of the year 

GK - Edwin Van Der Saar  - It may be his last season but it'll be one to remember having pulled off a string of stunning stops and has saved his team on numerous occasions.

RB - Seamus Coleman - Maybe a left back by trade but the distinct lack of top class right backs this season means Coleman gets the spot for me. A speedy player, capable of causing havoc in opponents half.

CB - Nemanja Vidic - Consistent and reliable are the two words that sum up Vidic the best. Rarely makes any errors and would go straight in any world team of mine.

CB - Vincent Kompany - Similar to Vidic in many respects. Leads well and never fails to be stood up and be counted for his side, always producing his best at the most vital of times.

LB - Leighton Baines - Speedy, skilful and a wicked left foot makes Baines a dangerous full back while also having the defensive ability to fit in well at left back.

CDM - Scott Parker - The tenacity, energy, desire and drive of Parker makes him the perfect defensive midfielder. Has showed terrific passion and determination this season.

CM -Van Der Vaart - Twelve goals from midfield and seven assists in an injury-hit season tells you a lot about the class of Van Der Vaart. Always prone to pop up in the right place at the right time and cynically finish when his team most need it.

LM - David Silva - David Silva oozes class. The sign of a class player is the amount of time they appear to have on the ball and Silva seems to have an age.

RM - Luis Nani - The Portugese international has had a class and very consistent season. Capable of producing moments of magic as well as being able to deliver a wicked ball and hit a fierce strike.

CAM - Wayne Rooney - Controversial pick no doubt but Rooney has had a very impressive season, especially since christmas. He has 12 assists and 10 goals along with being very influential in United's season. Hernandez is a class player but Rooney adds more to any team. His ability to drop deep and pick out a raking 40-yard ball is one possessed by very few strikers. The season started poorly for Rooney but in the last few months he has been outstanding, his hat-trick v West Ham a particularly impressive moment.

CF - Carlos Tevez - Without Tevez, City would be struggling to make top six. A proven goalscorer and someone who will always work hard for his side. The 19 goals in 28 appearances tell the story.

Schwartzel wins, Woods dazzles and McIlroy implodes in compelling Masters

The 2011 Masters was the best I've ever witnessed. Not just for the standard of golf or quality of field but because it had everything. Drama, tension, excitement, nerves, skill, a talented youngster crumbling under the pressure and a wounded American fighting his way back. We also had a surprise winner but not an undeserved one.

For me the Masters has always been a truly special event, and this year was no exception. We went into the tournament with most of the field capable of winning, and there were still 10 names who could be wearing that green jacket going onto the back nine on Sunday.

It ended up on Charl Schwartzel's shoulders, a 26-year-old South African, who finished on -14 but that doesn't even begin to tell the story.

Charl Schwartzel shows his euphoria after claiming by far the biggest win of his career

Going into the final day it was Rory McIlroy's to lose, and boy did he lose it. It took just one hole for his overnight four shot lead to be halved as Schwartzel brilliantly chipped in for birdie while McIlroy bogeyed. And then on the second Schwartzel produced perhaps shot of the tournament to eagle and tie the lead, it was the moment were you sensed it was his day.

Tiger eagled eight, Scott, Day, Choi, Cabrera birdied several and Mcllroy bogeyed to leave the destiny of the green jacket in anyones hands. At one point there were six players tied at the top on -10 before Mcllroy's began his descent into free fall.

And then an Englishman came into contention in the form of Luke Donald. Some immaculate putting and precise iron play put Donald just two shots off the pace before it all went wrong at twelve when he put his tee shot in the water and double bogeyed.

But he fought back resiliently, birdying 15, 16 and chipping in for a three at the last to give himself a glimmer of hope.

It looked to be heading for a tight finish with Scott, Day and Schwartzel fighting it out for the coveted prize before Schwartzel produced some of the best golf of the day. He superbly birdied 15, 16, 17 and 18 and no-one had an answer.

He walked onto the final green with every young golfer's dream; a 20 foot putt to win the Masters. He duly rolled it in to become the champion and pick up a cheque of $1.4million.

It was a great shame for McIlroy. He has such talent, such guts but ultimately he wasn't ready for this moment. He played some tremendous, breathtaking golf in the first three days but the thought of becoming a major champion was too much for him.

There is no doubt in my mind that he'll go onto win majors, he's too good not too, and he'll only learn from this experience. It all began to go wrong on ten when his drive smashed into a tree just metres ahead and cannoned 100 yards left. Two three putts followed from within 12 feet and the chance of becoming a major champion had gone, for now.

Mcllroy cuts a lonely figure as his drive on ten goes hundred yards left and proves to be the beginning of his downfall

Another home player to just miss out, albeit in an entirely different manner, was Luke Donald. The Englishman was consistent throughout and did well to finish where he did considering he was three over after 13 holes on the first day.

It's a mystery to me why he hasn't won more. In my opinion Donald is currently the best putter in the game, he rarely misses from inside six feet. His swing is silky smooth and his touch around the greens in up there with the best. What Donald lacks, though, is length, a key part of the modern game.

He showed plenty of guts and determination on the final day at Augusta. After going in the water at 12 he looked pretty much out but birdies at 13, 15 and 16 displayed such resilience that has been lacking from his game. Donald is another Brit that I feel will not have to wait long for a major.

Luke Donald again showed his class with four consistent rounds of golf that came up just short

As for Woods, he'll be disappointed not to win but he can take heart and encouragement from a return to form. He produced flashes of genius, moments of magic but inconsistency proved to be his downfall. The old Woods was back for periods.

He displayed some stunning golf, his second shots to eight and fifteen were spectacular, but he had his swagger back. The confidence and arrogance returned which made Tiger such a feared player to begin with. This performance should give him belief and confidence that he is coming back to some form and that should be a major worry to every other player.

Tiger shows some emotion after holing an eagle putt on eight to get into a share of the lead

The 2011 Masters will go down as one of the best in history and it will never be forgotten by me. The last day provided us with entertainment galore, it gripped millions of people worldwide and showed to the planet why golf  can be such a thrilling yet nail biting sport.

Carrick given freedom to express thanks to energy of Park and assurance of Ferdinand

Ji Sung Park and Michael Carrick are hardly household names in world football, they aren't even considered big names at Manchester United, but Wednesday's 1-0 win over Chelsea in the Champions League showed why they are rated so highly by Sir Alex Ferguson.

It was a terrific team performance from Ferguson's men, displaying courage, class and determination, all qualities they'll need to even have a a chance at winning the treble.

The return of Rio Ferdinand added assurance and stability at the back alongside Vidic, while Ryan Giggs brought experience and calmness, his exquisite touch leading to Wayne Rooney's goal, and Rooney himself produced moments of magic.

But it was the tenacity of Park and intelligence of Carrick which was key to the victory as they controlled the midfield battle against Lampard and Essien.

Carrick is often described as a confidence player, someone who only performs when his confidence is high. But in my view this is not the case. He is a team player, someone who does what's best for the team and not himself. It's clear that Carrick's best attribute is his passing, highlighted perfectly when he floated an inch perfect ball to Giggs for Rooney's goal, but he has seldom had the chance to show off his passing ability this season.

The reason for this is because he has been playing a much deeper role. His job is to defend, break up moves and then set his team up on the counter. It is something which he has excelled at. However, this means that he cannot produce the raking passes he has been in previous years because he cannot do the job of two midfielders at once.

But the return of another underrated player on Wednesday allowed Carrick the chance to express himself more. Ji Sung Park has been a big loss to United this season, his commitment and enthusiasm has been missed.

However, against Chelsea his tenacity and harrying of players freed up space for Carrick to push up the pitch and play a more attacking role while also tracking back and defending. The graphics below highlights this point. The left chalkboard shows Carrick's passing in United's 0-0 draw with Tottenham in January while the right is Wednesday's win over Chelsea.





















You can clearly deduce from these the difference in the position Carrick is playing. Against Tottenham he played a deeper role where his job was to prevent Spurs making any forward movement and therefore he made less forward passes and very few inside the opponents half. Whereas against Chelsea he was given the freedom to play higher up the pitch and become more directly involved in attacks, with the example being his wonderful pass to Giggs for the goal.

The stats from Wednesday's game only help his cause. Carrick had a highest pass rate, between 88-95% (depending on which source you use), he covered by far the most distance on the pitch, 11.31km, and made by far the most interceptions with seven.

Defending is the one area where Carrick is grossly underrated. Out of every player in this year's Champions League, he has made by far the most interceptions with 36, a stat which he also leads in the Premier League, while also having a tackle success rate of 70%.

There were countless times against Chelsea where you saw the value of Carrick. One specific example was when Drogba made a threatening run heading towards the penalty area but was halted by Carrick, who had sprinted back from his sides' own attack to stop the threat.

Carrick has the complete package for a midfielder. He has the passing, the tackling, anticipation and fitness to become a regular starter for one of the best teams in the world. The only slight downfall of him is his lack of shooting. But there is little doubt in my mind that if United go onto win trophies this season, Michael Carrick would have had a big hand to play in it.

Carrick's first half passing was simply outstanding. Made only 19 passes but nearly everyone leading to an attack for his team.

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.