Manchester United cast-off Javier Hernandez voted Bundesliga player of the month for second time in a row

Look away now, Louis van Gaal... Javier Hernandez has been voted Bundesliga player of the month for the second time in a row.

The former Manchester United striker, sold by Van Gaal for £12million in the summer, has been in incredible form for Bayer Leverkusen, scooping the award in both November and December.

While Manchester United struggle desperately for goals in the Premier League, Chicharito has netted seven in his last five matches, including a hat-trick against Borussia Monchengladbach. United have scored just two goals across their entire team in their last five league matches.

Hernandez spent five years at Old Trafford, but was shipped out on loan to Real Madrid last season, where he scored eight goals for the La Liga giants.

He returned to Manchester to play three games for United at the start of the season, but was quickly notified by Van Gaal that he was surplus to requirements despite the club's need for a striker.

In fact, Hernandez was told by the Dutchman that there was just a 'one per cent chance' of him playing at Old Trafford this term.

Speaking to Spanish TV show Fiebre Maldini earlier this month, Hernandez revealed: 'I didn't have the intention to leave but I wanted more playing time. Van Gaal told me that he already had his strikers, that I would have to fight for a place but could take an offer if an opportunity arrives.

'The board told me that I could go on loan to Real Madrid and it was not a difficult decision for me.

'Then I returned to Manchester. I started to have opportunities but one day I spoke with Van Gaal and I had only a one per cent chance of playing so I needed to make magic. So I moved to Bayen.

Anthony Martial was brought in for an eye-watering £36million on deadline day, but he has only managed three goals in his last 18 appearances.

United, who have dropped to sixth in the Premier League with no wins in their last eight, have scored just two goals in their previous five games. 

All that points to the need for a goalscorer and, despite the obvious quality in the team, someone like Hernandez would surely have slotted in perfectly this season. 

Over in Germany, his goals have helped Leverkusen to fifth in the table, just two points off a Champions League place at the turn of the year.

With Hoffenheim and Hannover - Bundesliga basement boys - up next, they will hope to push even higher, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see the Mexico man's name on the scoresheet once more.

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