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Jordan Henderson’s rash decision to slide in, studs up, in an effort to make up for his poor control against Manchester City last weekend, resulting in a straight dismissal, won’t be the act that loses Liverpool the Premier League title. Far from it. It simply means Brendan Rodgers, excellent in his decisions for the majority of the season, will be tested once more to show just how progressive he can be.

For three of the next four league games, Liverpool will be without a player who has battled the demons of 2011, the misfortune of arriving at Anfield on a ship destined to sink. Almost everything was against the former Sunderland midfielder that prevented him from properly kick-starting his career at the club.

Henderson’s improvement and role at Liverpool now means his suspension will have brought about a sense of frustration, rather than doom. It’s not akin to losing either Luis Suarez or Steven Gerrard. It’s an inconvenience that means Liverpool’s path to glory will see them through some muddy terrain. But rather muddy than mountainous.

Rodgers has shown himself to be unable to sit on what he has. He’s constantly tweaking, moving pieces around; thinking, always thinking a few steps ahead.

He hasn’t been as erratic in this second half of the season. The base of the formation has generally stayed the same. The major reshuffling has come in attack, where Suarez, Daniel Sturridge, Coutinho, and Raheem Sterling will either be moved about the front three or dropped deeper into the midfield. It’s all been to gain a tactical advantage over the next opponent.

It’s why it’s hard to see Rodgers coming up short in the task of finding a replacement for Henderson in the midfield three. The England midfielder’s value is in his energy, his willingness to work and help out defensively. He counters Gerrard’s lack of mobility by offering it himself. Henderson’s own flaws, on the other hand, have been masked by the intelligence of the club captain.

Henderson’s contribution to Liverpool this season, especially since Gerrard moved into the pivot role, has been one of a marathon. He’s been a mainstay in the team – a testament again to the man management of Rodgers. What the manager needs now are a few short bursts from one or two individuals. There’s a reason Henderson has featured so regularly. Expecting another to step in and offer the same contribution is unrealistic.

Joe Allen is an option, one who has performed much better this season than his debut year at Anfield. Lucas Leiva is another who can come in and offer some stability in front of the back four. There is fortune that Henderson doesn’t fall into a specialist category like Coutinho, who the team rely upon for creativity, or Sterling, whose pace is vitally important.

The fact that Lucas is far more settled in the team than Allen means he is more likely to feature, but allowing both players to pick up some responsibility may be best, rather than throwing one of two ‘cold’ players into the mix with so much on the line.

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Henderson will be missed, particularly in the home game against Chelsea. But his absence hasn’t gifted Manchester City or Chelsea any great advantage. This will just be another showcase of Rodgers’ managerial qualities to make the most of what he has.

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Michael Owen believes that his former team-mate Steven Gerrard has increased his chances of lifting the elusive Premier League trophy with Liverpool by giving up on his England career.

The 34-year-old midfielder yesterday announced his decision to step down as the Three Lions’ skipper and bring his time in the international set-up to an end after claiming 114 caps.

Gerrard has been an ever-present for England since breaking through to the senior team in 2000, and is widely hailed as one of the very best midfield players to have played in the white shirt.

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Although his form and fitness are still evident, the veteran is said to have reached the decision in a bid to prolong his time in Liverpool’s first-team, with the Reds having come very close to a first ever Premier League title last season.

In his glittering career Gerrard has lifted the Champions League, the FA Cup twice and the League Cup on three occasions, but league honours have evaded him.

Owen – who played alongside the Anfield idol while at Liverpool – believes that his old team-mate’s chances of claiming the prize he seeks are not gone, and may have improved due to his England decision:

“I believe Stevie’s decision to stand down from international duty has in no small part been made with a view to prolonging his career at Liverpool.” He is quoted by The Express.

“Despite England’s lack of success during his time with them, I for one hope he can add to his already impressive haul with Liverpool by lifting the one piece of domestic silverware, which has eluded him thus far.

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“England will miss Gerrard, but Liverpool will definitely feel the benefit of him resting during the international breaks in the Premier League.”

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Frank Lampard has been breaking Chelsea fans’ hearts since his return to the Premier League with Manchester City but could the stalwart midfielder be the key to the Citizens’ success?

In a move that has been heavily criticised, Lampard left Chelsea after a 13-year spell to move to the USA and play for newly formed team New York City FC which saw him immediately loaned back to current Premier League champions Man City for half a season. At first it looked like he was only there to make up the squad numbers and keep his fitness up before returning to America to play for his new team, however things are starting to look a bit different now after his first few performances have seen him score some vital goals.

There is no doubting that Lampard is one of the world’s best midfielders – he has had a fantastic career for both club and country which saw him become Chelsea’s all time record scorer – not a bad achievement from the middle of the park. He has consistently contributed to the goal tally every season, whether he was scoring them or supplying them, and he fast became a club legend at the Bridge becoming an integral part of their success under Roman Abravomich.

Few could blame him for his move away from the club at the end of his contract, especially when the player himself said that he wanted to stay but was not offered a new deal. Lamps has still got a few years left in him, so the natural thing to do was to move, even if he didn’t envisage it being a title rival.

Football is big business these days and big name players will certainly go a long way to boost the popularity of “soccer” in America, which certainly goes some way to explaining why Lampard is the latest star to have made the move over there.

Loan moves back to Europe are not uncommon either, we saw David Beckham have spells with AC Milan during the MLS off-season on a couple of occasions to keep his fitness levels up.

What made his move to Man City hit so many headlines though is the fact that first of all it was hard to ever imagine him in any other Premier League shirt other than Chelsea’s, let alone a title rival’s colours. It might not have been so hard to take if it was just the odd substitute appearance as first anticipated, but Lampard has shown his class since his first game for City and scored some important goals already, not least the dramatic late equaliser against Chelsea in the 1-1 draw between the two sides. He is already showing signs of the Super Frank Chelsea fans loved to watch every week, providing chances for his team mates and showing a killer instinct in front of goal.

It is still early days for him in the sky blue of Manchester, but he looks a key part in the trophy chasing squad already and what was set to be a short-term loan deal already looks like it could be made into a more long term deal. Whereas last season Yaya Toure was the key to City’s success, the Ivorian is yet to show his mettle, but Frank has stepped up to the plate so far and been the catalyst in the side that has inspired them to get results in all the games he has featured in.

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With City chasing not only the title but also the Champions League, he could well be the key to their campaign. You have to wonder whether at the end of the season, Mourinho will regret letting Lampard go.

It could be worse Nando, you could be one of these guys…

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David Silva believes Manchester City cannot afford to lose to Chelsea, when the two go head-to-head at the Etihad tomorrow afternoon, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Chelsea already sit five points clear of their title rivals, having gained a 100% winning record from their opening four Premier League fixtures.

A win at the Etihad tomorrow would see them move eight points clear of City, and even at this early stage Silva reckons it is a game his side cannot afford to lose.

“It is very important game,” he said. “They are first and have more points – we can’t lose on Sunday and allow the gap to open.

“It’s the early stages, there’s still a long way to go in the Premier League.

“Anything can happen – we need to win as otherwise the gap is starting to get too big.

“But the Premier League, until the last minute, you just don’t stop fighting and there’s still a long way to go.”

Chelsea have been boosted by the summer arrivals of Silva’s fellow countryman Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa, with both having made a huge impact so far.

But Silva insists he is not phased by facing his international teammates.

“It’s Fabregas this weekend but also Santi Cazorla (at Arsenal) and Mata when we play United, so almost every game I’m against one of them”, he said.

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“But we are a strong team, we’ve got a big team and we have to win the game.

“Costa has made a huge impact. I think he has scored seven times so far and is important for Chelsea – not so good for us. They are a good team and we just have to go out and win.

“It’s not easy to adapt, but he (Costa) has done it very quickly. Fabregas knows the Premier League very well from being here before. Some players adapt faster than others but it’s never easy.”

The football hipster’s favourite team is in the midst of a bit of a rough patch at the moment. A home defeat to Hamburg two weekends ago condemned Borussia Dortmund to their fourth defeat of the season, leaving Bayern Munich’s only credible challengers for the Bundesliga title languishing in 13th place, ten points worse off already than their table-topping rivals from Bavaria after just seven games.

In many ways, Dortmund’s decline was almost inevitable in a game where very few footballers are immune to the lure of a big-money move. Winning the German title in two successive seasons between 2010 and 2012 was down to an immensely talented crop of players – some expertly picked out from relative obscurity, others educated and gradually promoted through the ranks at Dortmund’s prestigious academy of excellence – whose potential for success transformed into reality under the guidance of Jurgen Klopp.

In addition to their league triumphs, Dortmund also won the German Cup in the 2011/12 season and reached the Champions League final a year later. While that game may have ended in defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich, the mere fact that Dortmund had reached the final of the biggest club competition in world football after years of financial difficulties was, in the eyes of many, a cause for celebration in itself, and an emphatic announcement of Dortmund’s emergence as a genuine footballing superpower.

However, the west German side’s headline-grabbing achievements proved to be significant in an altogether different manner, as bigger – and richer – clubs started to become interested in its stars. Shinji Kagawa’s move to Manchester United in 2012 was a blow given that the Japanese playmaker was a well-liked figure amongst the fans, yet the loss of Mario Gotze to Bayern – confirmed prior to the Champions League final – was the real sucker punch and marked the turning point in the battle for supremacy in German football.

Gotze had been with the club since the age of nine and was regarded as the club’s brightest prospect. His transfer to Dortmund’s fiercest rivals not only left a bitter taste in the mouths of the fans, but was also a devastating reality check for the team in yellow and black – for all of Dortmund’s success, Bayern remained the definitive German side, a powerhouse with the clout and enviable prestige to snap up the best players with little trouble. The Champions League final appearance was meant to be a symbol of Dortmund’s phenomenal rise to the top; instead, it came to represent a false dawn, a beginning of the end for a great team whose dismantling was bound to happen in the modern footballing world where money rules all.

Lightning struck twice for Dortmund this summer as Robert Lewandowski – the talismanic Polish striker who had played such a large part in Der BVB‘s back-to-back title wins – also decided that the temptations of Munich were too much for him, and Jurgen Klopp’s side arguably haven’t recovered since. Although their performances in the Champions League – including a convincing victory over Arsenal – have been impressive and puts them in a good position to qualify, the loss of two highly important members of the team in consecutive seasons to their arch rivals and title challengers has been gut-wrenchingly demoralising.

Klopp deserves immense credit for his principled approach, sticking with the team after such galling setbacks despite some lucrative offers elsewhere, and he still has wonderful players at his disposal, not least Kagawa, whose return at least softened the blow of losing Lewandowski. Nevertheless, losing two key players has swung the balance of power firmly in Bayern’s favour, as reflected by Dortmund’s lowly league position. The way in which the Bavarians ruthlessly crushed Dortmund’s potential by taking their star performers means that the chances of Klopp’s side emulating their recent triumphs are very slim. Ultimately, what is most sad about Dortmund’s story is the fleeting nature of their success – given time, theirs was a team that could have won so much more.

And yet, there is more than one Borussia in the Bundesliga. After decades of underachievement with little to cheer about, Borussia Monchengladbach – five-times Bundesliga winners, two-times UEFA Cup winners and one-time European Cup finalists – are on the ascent once again. Under Swiss coach Lucien Favre, Die Fohlen have undergone a rapid change in fortunes, finishing in sixth place last season on their way to Europa League qualification after only getting promoted from the second tier of German football in 2008. Monchengladbach are currently undefeated in the Bundesliga and sit in third place, and with an exciting squad containing the likes of Granit Xhaka, Christoph Kramer and on-loan Chelsea midfielder Thorgan Hazard, expectations are high.

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Replicating the Golden Decade of the 1970’s – the period when Monchengladbach enjoyed the greatest success – is fanciful, yet with the other Borussia side struggling, they may be the team to emerge as the next threat to Bayern’s crown. For the sake of German football, let’s hope that this Borussia does not succumb to the same fate as its namesake.

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It’s certainly been a disappointing first half to the season for Liverpool fans. Far from their runner-up finish last year, the Reds find themselves in eighth place after twenty fixtures, and most importantly of all, seven points off a Champions League spot.

But there’s still 18 Premier League games remaining and reportedly some cash in the transfer kitty, so with the January window now upon us, it’s time to consider some signings that could rekindle the Reds’ stuttering campaign.

Just in case Brendan Rodgers is short on ideas, being the lovely bunch we are at Football Fancast, we’ve gone and thought of FIVE.

YOHAN CABAYE

With reports of Steven Gerrard’s end-of-season departure confirmed yesterday evening, Brendan Rodgers could kill two birds with one stone in January – strengthening his squad for the rest of the campaign whilst simultaneously finding a successor to Liverpool’s Captain Fantastic.

Undoubtedly a task easier said than done, but one option comes in the form of PSG’s Yohan Cabaye. The France international is a little more lightweight than Stevie G but shares many traits with the Anfield skipper, particularly a cultured, long-range passing game and deadly potency from dead ball situations.

The 28 year-old is well-proven in the Premier League too, having bagged 18 goals and 15 assists in 93 appearances for Newcastle, and appears to be on his way out at PSG after failing to become a first team regular since swapping Tyneside for Parc de Princes last January. It’s believed he’d set Liverpool back around £22million.

PETR CECH

Brendan Rodgers’ dwindling faith in Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has clearly surpassed breaking point and securing the services of a replacement No.1 will likely be the Anfield gaffer’s first port of call in January.

It might seem like a rather audacious move, but in terms of goalkeepers with Premier League-proven credentials, it’s impossible to look past Chelsea’s Petr Cech. The Czech international is one of the greatest goalies in Premier League history, boasting 328 league appearances, three titles and three Golden Gloves, and is in need of a new challenge, having fallen behind Thibaut Courtois in the pecking order at Stamford Bridge this season – an immensely talented goalkeeper a decade his junior.

Chelsea are reluctant to sell however and the 32 year-old doesn’t seem to be pushing for a departure, but the Red should be at least testing the waters this January.

XHERDAN SHAQIRI

According to the tabloids, Liverpool are already on the verge of announcing a deal for Bayern Munich winger Xherdan Shaqiri.

The Reds were strongly linked to the Swiss international during the summer, but his impressive performances at the World Cup reportedly convinced the German champions to reject Anfield’s fiscal advances.

Still struggling to usurp Arjen Robben or Frank Ribery from a first team place however, somewhat unsurprisingly, it’s believed the Bavarians are now prepared to let Shaqiri leave.

Despite not making the grade at the Allainz Arena, the 23 year-old is a real prospect; he created the most chances per match of any player at Brazil 2014.

FABIAN SCHAR

From one Swiss international to another, FC Basel prodigy Fabian Schar is set to become one of the January transfer window’s most sought-after bargains and Liverpool would be wise to get involved in the pursuit.

It may seem counter-intuitive to suggest a 23 year-old centre-half can triumph where Liverpool’s more experienced players have failed. But Schar’s continually impressed in the Champions League over the last two seasons, last term recording the best statistics of any defender, as detailed below, and appears more than ready to begin plying his trade at a higher level:

A front-footed, ambitious defender, the Switzerland centre-back’s confidence in possession should particularly strike a chord with Brendan Rodgers – and with his contract set to expire at the end of the season, it looks like Bebbi will be forced to sell before the end of the month.

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It’s believed Schar will be sold for around the £10million mark, but rival suitors include Arsenal, Spurs, Manchester United, Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan.

FABIAN DELPH

From one January bargain (and one Fabian) to another, plenty of clubs will also be fighting it out for Aston Villa’s Fabian Delph this month.

It’s been a sensational 2014 for the tenacious midfielder, winning the Villain of the Year award at the end of last season and more recently a spot in Roy Hodgson’s England squad, with three caps since his September debut.

Brendan Rodgers has brought success to several young England internationals since taking the Anfield helm in 2012 and in that regard, Delph fits the bill perfectly. His blend of industry, dynamism and flair – epitomised in the video above – suits Liverpool’s philosophy too.

Aston Villa insist the 25 year-old isn’t for sale, but with his contract set to expire in the summer and an extension becoming increasingly unlikely, they’ll be unable to turn down respectable offers this January. £10million-£15million seems like a realistic estimate.

Glenn Hoddle believes that Southampton could finish ahead of Manchester United in the race for a top four finish and Champions League qualification.

The Saints registered a stunning win at Old Trafford on Sunday thanks to a second-half Dusan Tadic goal to move above the Red Devils into third place.

Although much of the talk before a ball was kicked this term surrounding the South Coast club was about a potential relegation struggle following the exits of key players, new manager Ronald Koeman has enjoyed a fine start to life at St Mary’s Stadium.

WANT MORE? >> Man United transfer news | Latest transfer news

Losses to rivals such as Liverpool, Spurs and United over the first half of the campaign led to claims that the Hampshire outfit may be unable to cope with the pressure of a Champions League push, yet a turnaround – encapsulated by the weekend win and a victory at home to Arsenal – has prompted suggestions they are genuine top four contenders.

And with Arsenal making up ground, Hoddle believes Southampton have the “belief” now, which could be key in the battle between themselves and United:

“Arsenal are coming on strong right now with a lot of their players returning at the right time,” he told Zapsportz.com. “Chelsea ad Manchester City are sure to be in the top four, which leaves it as a fight between United and Southampton, I believe.

“And there is every chance of Southampton coming out on top if they can keep going with a rare commodity that Koeman has given them – belief.

“You could see that belief running through the team at Old Trafford and that result will only strengthen that belief.

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“The manager and the players are not shouting that from the roof tops and that’s also a good sign. They will keep that belief in house and this could prove to be one of the biggest surprises of this or an other season… going from favourites for relegation to a Champions league spot after losing their manager and so many top players.”

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If there’s one thing Newcastle United have got do in January, it’s keep hold of their star man Moussa Sissoko. Reports in the Daily Mail have linked the Frenchman to a move to the Emirates, with the player confessing Arsenal are ‘the club of my heart’.

Sissoko made the move to St James’ Park in January 2013, from French side Toulouse for an undisclosed fee. The French international has quickly turned himself into one of the Premier League’s best midfielders and a Newcastle fan favourite. During his time in England, he’s been described as a box-to-box midfielder, who doesn’t shy away from a tackle and has the eye for the odd goal or two.

Since arriving at Newcastle, Sissoko has become one of the Magpies’ most consistent performers. After showing glimpses of quality in his first year and a half with the North East club, the dominant midfielder has really come of age this season. He has caught the eye with some standout performances and his quality would benefit any of the Premier League’s elite. Despite only netting two league goals so far this term, Sissoko’s form is a real reason of why Newcastle are looking upwards rather than over their shoulders.

The Frenchman’s strong performances this term have seen him heavily linked with a move away from Tyneside. Newcastle are undoubtedly going through a transitional period at present, with ex-boss Alan Pardew leaving the club to head for Crystal Palace recently, and his former assistant John Carver in charge on a temporary basis. Whoever comes into St James’ Park must persuade the 25-year-old to stay at the club, but that’s obviously easier said than done considering Sissoko has already admitted he’s be interested in a move to the Gunners.

Moussa Sissoko has been a shining light in what has been another turbulent season at St James’ Park. The Magpies have probably been the Premier League’s most unpredictable side this term – a run of no wins in their first seven Premier League outings was followed up with six straight league and cup victories to turn their season right around. Newcastle have only tasted victory once in eight games in all competitions – and since Pardew departed, a 3-3 home draw against lowly Burnley is the best the North-East club have mustered.

Sissoko’s calm head is exactly what the Magpies are in desperate need of at the moment. Despite all the transfer talk surrounding him of late, his performance levels have never dropped, and he remains as vital as ever for Newcastle. The midfielder was excellent in the 2-0 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last Saturday – he hit the post with a thunderous drive in the first-half, and his superb showing throughout the game would have only added more fuel to the fire for a potential move away.

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Owner Mike Ashley must get Alan Pardew’s replacement in as soon as possible. Whether that will mean Carver getting the job full-time or another man to coming into the hot seat, their first task is to sit Sissoko down and do everything in their power to keep the Toon Army’s main man at St James’ Park.

Liverpool’s Martin Skrtel has slated the FA’s decision to reject his appeal and ban him for three games following his ‘stamp’ on Manchester United’s David de Gea.

The incident occurred in the dying seconds of the Reds’ 2-1 loss at home to their bitter rivals on Sunday when the Slovakian collided with the goalkeeper as he was chasing a loose ball.

Replays indicated that there had been contact between his boot and the United man’s leg, but the incident was not seen by any of the match day officials.

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The FA subsequently reviewed the coming together, with an independent panel declaring that the Merseyside ace had intentionally stood on De Gea.

Skrtel appealed the call, but the three-match ban has been upheld.

The 30-year-old was seemingly critical of the FA shortly afterwards – he posted an image of clowns on his Instagram account (below) – and has now told his personal website that he does not feel guilty:

“It feels strange because we appealed against those charges and still I was hit by a three-match ban,

“I didn’t want to stamp on him. It was an accident and I didn’t do it on purpose. I don’t feel guilty.

“It was a long ball and he went towards me and I wanted to jump over him. Simple as that.”

Skrtel will miss Liverpool’s league games with Arsenal and Newcastle as well as the club’s FA Cup quarter-final replay at Blackburn.

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Steven Gerrard will also sit out the same clashes for a stamp on Ander Herrera in the United game – which he was red carded for.

…A photo posted by Martin Skrtel official (@martin37skrtel) on Mar 25, 2015 at 4:41am PDT

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Speaking ahead of Real Madrid’s clash against Granada last weekend, Galacticos’ boss Carlo Ancelotti revealed his sympathies for striker Javier Hernandez.

Bought in on loan with a view to a permanent transfer last summer, the Mexican has struggled to have any sort of impact in the Spanish capital.

With only 14 appearances, many from the bench, ‘Little Pea’s’ move to Madrid has been a failure. But would his parent club profit from having the predatory striker back in their mitts?

Hernandez’s impact at Old Trafford was startling. Bought mainly as back up by Sir Alex Ferguson in 2010, his performances on the pitch made him a central part of his plans. Thirteen goals in his debut season went along way to helping his new team lift the Premier League trophy.

His next two seasons in England represented similar yields for the Mexican. Scoring 10 goals in both of the next two campaigns, he built a reputation as one of the most feared goal scorers in English football.

However, Ferguson’s departure has essentially seemed to end his United career and both David Moyes and Van Gaal have been reluctant to use the forward, with Van Gaal electing to send him out on loan.

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The strike force at the start of this season meant the Dutch manager seemed to be taking no risk in letting Hernandez go. Both Van Persie and Rooney were comfortably ahead of him in the pecking order, and the signing of Radamel Falcao meant game time for the Mexican would be limited at best.

But as we have seen this season, only Rooney has had any sort of consistent impact on this new Man United side. Van Persie has been dogged by injuries and, when he has been fit, he has looked a shadow of the player he once was. Radamel Falcao has also struggled to settle into life in Manchester, only three goals have been netted by the Colombian since his arrival.

As United now enter a pivotal run of fixtures in their quest for top four football, they are almost solely reliant on their captain Rooney for striking options. Few could argue that Hernandez wouldn’t add to this current United side.

Javier Hernandez still seems as if he would be the perfect foil for Rooney. Although he has been at United for five years now, he has never had a consistent run in the side. Even through this he has managed a good return and his record should be respected.

If he is still committed to Manchester United, it seems silly for them to not seriously look at trying to convince him to return to Manchester. It seems inevitable his Spanish journey is coming to an end and his list of admirers is sure to be long.

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Van Gaal will need to go out and purchase quality players to help propel his side into serious title contention, come next year. He would have to spend some serious money to find a striker as effective and instinctive as Hernandez.

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