Pellegrini backs Hernandez to keep firing after sinking Magpies
Manuel Pellegrini is hoping Javier Hernandez is back to his best after plundering a double in West Ham’s comfortable victory at Newcastle.
The Mexico star struck after 12 and 64 minutes before Felipe Anderson sealed victory – just the Hammers’ second on Tyneside in 20 years – at the death.
Hernandez has had only limited involvement this season after being floored by a virus, but his performance at St James’ Park suggested he is ready to terrorise defences once again.
Pellegrini said: “If you review his career, Javier had played at Manchester United, at Real Madrid, at Bayer Leverkusen, in the national squad of Mexico, different countries and everywhere he has scored.
“He’s had a career in which he was wanted by all the big teams and it’s because he has something different.
“I hope he will continue in the same way if he can have a normal season from now until the end of this one.”
Asked about the illness which had hampered the frontman in recent months, the manager added: “It was five weeks that he couldn’t move, he couldn’t work, not just one day.
“He came first from the World Cup without a holiday, without a preseason and he started playing some minutes.
“After that, he had that virus. In the last games, he has been playing 45 minutes, but he has recovered now his shape and I hope that he will continue scoring for our team.”
Previously in-form Newcastle had gone into the game on the back of three successive wins, but were undone within 12 minutes when Hernandez steered home Robert Snodgrass’ cross, and all but beaten when he converted from Marco Arnautovic’s flick.
The home side spurned chances with Ayoze Perez the main culprit, and the former Lazio ace Anderson ended their
faint hopes of a fightback in stoppage time.
Pellegrini said: “I’m very pleased because I think we played a very complete game.
Attacking, we scored three goals and we created a lot more chances and defending, we kept a clean sheet and really Newcastle didn’t have clear, clear chances.”
Opposite number Rafael Benitez admitted that the visitors, who spent around £100million this summer with Anderson alone costing £40million, had simply had too much quality for his side.
He said: “Arnautovic, Felipe Anderson, Snodgrass and Hernandez, four players – all of them have quality, all of them have pace, they have ability, that’s the point. It wasn’t just one player today.
“The four offensive players and the players in the middle that they had, they are quite good and will create problems against anyone.”
Asked if that is the kind of quality he craves at St James’ Park, Benitez replied: “Obviously it’s a reminder that still we can improve things, and we have to improve things.
“There are two ways: one is working harder and better, or bringing in players who on their own can make the difference.”
NEWCASTLE
uniTed:
Dubravka 6; Yedlin 5, Fernandez 5, Schar 6, Manquillo 6; Ritchie 5 (Atsu 54, 6), Ki 6, Diame 6, Kenedy 5 (Shelvey 70, 6); Perez 5 (Joselu 78, 6), Rondon 6. Unused subs –Woodman, Clark, Lascellesm, Longstaff.
WEST HAM:
Fabianski 7; Zabaleta 7, Balbuena 7, Diop 7, Cresswell 6 (Masuaku 56, 7); Anderson 8, Noble 7 (Wilshere 85, 6), Rice 7, Snodgrass 7; Hernandez 8, Arnautovic 6 (Obiang 71, 7). Unused subs – Adrian, Ogbonna, Perez, Carroll.