By CandH writer Allen Cummings

The great Chicharito debate is in full flow. Should he stay or should he go? Do we still want him. Does he want us? Has he let us down, or just maybe the club have let him down? Were promises made to him when he arrived that he’d be used in a certain way? Why he came in the first place. And those promises haven’t been fulfilled.

The rumour mill is rife with speculation , especially as Chicharito’s been absent most recently with suspected ‘flu’. Opinions are split on what could or should happen.

Looking for the way out?

It’s all very different to just six months ago, when the little Mexican arrived from Bayer Leverkusen to a fanfare of expectation in a £16m deal. Here was the special goal scorer we’d been craving. The kind of fox-in-the-box we’d been crying out for.

Sales of sombreros in the east end went through the roof as we went out of our way to welcome a new hero. After drawing a blank on his first-game return to Old Trafford, Hernandez pounced twice in typical fashion at St Mary’s. Even though we lost that one 3-2 to Southampton we’d all seen what Chicharito could do. Surely there was more to come.

Sadly, and as crazy as it may seem, that was possibly the high spot. Since then goals (only two more have followed) and in recent weeks appearances, have been hard to come by.

Under Slaven Bilic Hernandez was used in a variety of roles, but rarely in the one that suited him best. As part of a two-man strike force with a partner to provide the strength and muscle while Little Pea buzzed around feeding off the scraps and bagging the goals. That’s the way he had built his career. A special talent that had taken him to big clubs like Manchester United, Real Madrid and Leverkusen. Why he was such a cult hero in his own native Mexico.

Circumstances during Bilic’s faltering reign saw him pushed out wide, mostly left but sometimes on the right. On other occasions he was left up front on his own as a lone striker. It wasn’t his game. He looked frustrated. Disininterested.

He isn’t built for that role so it’s hardly surprising he struggled. Get the ball to him in the box and he comes alive. But if the team’s not geared to playing that way or providing the service he thrives on, he’s bound to look a luxury we can ill afford.

The change of manager hasn’t brought Hernandez a change of fortunes. Irrespective of the theory there is history between them from their Man United days, Moyes looks to have come up with a formula using Marco Arnautovic as his main striker, and Chicharito only required in an emergency. It’s proving effective. The team are benefiting so really there is no argument against.

Hernandez’s last Premier League start was against Crystal Palace at the end of October. Since Moyes’ appointment at the beginning of November he’s been restricted to just 5 PL appearances, all as substitute. So are Hernandez’ days at the London Stadium numbered?

Is the writing on the wall? It certainly looks that way. Should we be disappointed or maybe delighted it looks to be coming to an end? Possibly the only question now is will the parting of the ways come within the next few weeks? Or will Moyes want to hold on to Chicharito as insurance until the summer? The debate goes on.