Pablo Hernandez has been enjoying a brilliant season for Leeds and he proved it after just 16 seconds in the 4-0 thrashing of West Brom on Friday night.
His goal set Leeds on their way to a fantastic and much-needed win and it led to a number of people in the press box comparing Hernandez to Leeds legend Gordon Strachan.
Talking on the latest episode of the Inside Elland Road podcast (19:30), Hay said, “I wonder if this is the best season of his career at 33.
“And it might seem funny to say that seeing as he’s been at Valencia and in the Premier league with Swansea, but he’s scored more goals than he has anywhere else. This is the best he’s played during his time at Leeds.
“There were a lot of comparisons on Friday to Gordon Strachan back in 1990. They’re totally totally different personalities. Gordon Strachan, to coin a phrase, could start a fight in an empty house, Hernandez wouldn’t say boo to a goose.
“But the influence of them, the comparative age and that level of experience and the ability to come up with big moments in big games, like Hernandez did on Friday, I think the comparison is a valid one.”
OPINION
Leeds would have been looking to Hernandez on Friday night and he didn’t let them down, scoring an absolute wonder goal almost straight from the kick-off. It’s Leeds’ fourth-fastest goal of all time and seeing as West Brom kicked off, it was quite spectacular. The technique was amazing, hardly any back lift, and it gave the goalkeeper no chance. He’s been brilliant all season and it’s odd to think that he probably won’t win the Leeds Player of the Season. That will probably go to Kalvin Phillips, who has had so much of a positive influence on his side. Liam Cooper deserves a special mention as well – it was his crashing header that gave the ball to Jack Harrison, who set up Hernandez for the early goal on Friday night. That got the crowd on their feet before Hernandez rippled the net. As for comparing Hernandez to Strachan, that’s some accolade. Strachan was a legend at Leeds and one of the greats of the game. Ending his career with Leeds in the Premier League would be a fitting finale to Hernandez’s career.