Javier Hernandez Can Still Be Valuable for Louis Van Gaal and Manchester United

If Javier Hernandez is hoping to get the chance to restart his Manchester United career next season, it's not looking good. Louis van Gaal had a look at the Mexican striker during the pre-season tour of the United States and the first few weeks of the season and decided he wasn't needed.

Hernandez was allowed to move to Real Madrid on loan in the final days of the summer transfer window while Van Gaal tied up a similar deal for Radamel Falcao. But neither striker's future is certain. And there's debate about where both will be at the start of next season.

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There is doubt about whether Real Madrid will exercise their option to buy Hernandez, just as there is doubt about whether United will decide to buy Falcao. If Hernandez isn't wanted at the Bernabeu beyond the end of the season, he will return to Old Trafford. He still has a year left on the five-year contract he signed in 2011.

Not many players, especially 26-year-olds, get welcomed back from a loan spell with open arms. And it's unlikely Van Gaal will choose to reintegrate Hernandez into the first team next summer. 

But that's not to say he shouldn't at least consider it. Hernandez has a very specific talent. Like Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, he's got a knack for coming off the bench and scoring vital goals. Only Solskjaer has scored more as a substitute for United.

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It's something United have missed. This season, Falcao has made five substitute appearances in the Premier League and failed to score in any of them. James Wilson has been used as a substitute eight times in the league, scoring once against Queens Park Rangers on Saturday.

Between them, Falcao and Wilson have averaged a goal every 13 substitute appearances this season. In four seasons after signing from Guadalajara for £7 million in 2010, Hernandez came off the bench 69 times and scored 17 goals, about a goal every four appearances. It's an impressive record.

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If he returns to United, it's unlikely Hernandez would be anything other than a useful squad player. But he can still be useful.

It will, of course, depend on whether he's happy to play a bit-part role. He could find regular first-team football almost anywhere else in the world. 

But he has a skill that still makes him valuable to United, even if they can call on Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie and Falcao. Van Gaal is trying to build a squad to win the Premier League and Champions League. And even among some of the best players in the world, there's always room for a super sub.