Javier Hernandez Told He Is Needed by Manchester United Amid Tottenham Reports

David Moyes has made an attempt to make Javier Hernandez feel loved at Manchester United, insisting the Premier League champions need their Mexican poacher.

Fears were sparked by Chicharito on Sunday when he retweeted a story in which compatriot Carlos Vela suggested he needed to leave Old Trafford.

However, Moyes addressed the diminutive striker ahead of United’s Champions League clash at Real Sociedad, per Sky Sports, saying:

"

We need Javier Hernandez; he's very good for us.

He's scored a lot of goals over the last few years and continues to do so, so we'll continue to use him.

"

Vela’s earlier comments had focused on Hernandez’s lack of playing time at United, where he finds himself behind Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney in the pecking order.

The Sociedad forward recently stated, per Sky Sports:

"

If he doesn't play regularly he will need to think about leaving. You always want to succeed at the biggest clubs - but if he is not given the chance there will be big teams in England and Europe wanting him.

"

Hernandez has scored four goals in as many starts this term, but he continues to find himself starved of regular action due to the form of both van Persie and Rooney.

Even Danny Welbeck has, at times, been preferred to Hernandez due to what the England man offers outside the area, linking up play, tracking back and causing a threat from wide areas.

Hernandez only truly comes alive in the penalty box and, for that reason, can only be deployed effectively when partnered by a fellow forward who can drop deep to link midfield to attack.

Fortunately for Hernandez, Moyes has moved toward a more orthodox setup in recent matches, either playing a 4-4-2 or a 4-2-3-1. Either way, his formations have positioned Rooney just off the striker, which suits Hernandez’s style.

The test will come when Welbeck returns from injury. If he begins to eat into Hernandez’s game time, the instinctive striker will surely have to consider his future.

Tottenham have been linked heavily with a £15 million bid due to their shortage of goals, per James Dickenson of the Express, having scored nine times in 10 league outings.

Andre Villas-Boas’ style—also reliant upon a lone striker—arguably does not suit the United man, but if Spurs’ interest is echoed by the likes of Atletico Madrid—as previously reported by the Mail Online—Hernandez would not be blamed for taking his formidable goalscoring powers elsewhere.