Hernandez praises newcomer Welbeck

Manchester United forward Javier Hernandez has hailed the impact of team-mate Danny Welbeck on the English Premier League champions.

Welbeck spent last season on loan at Sunderland, impressing throughout his spell at the Stadium of Light, and earning an England call-up.

Mexico international Hernandez has found himself out of the first team at times this season due to the emergence of Welbeck, but does not begrudge his fellow centre-forward such success.

“Danny Welbeck is a brilliant player,” he said.

“He is only young but he went to Sunderland and did great things there. Then he came back here and has been unbelievable.”

“That doesn’t upset me, competition is normal at a club like this. You need to be at your best to help the team. That is the most important thing.”

Hernandez said United were aiming to win the Europa League after dropping into the second-tier competition from the Champions League.

“The history of Manchester United is such that it doesn’t matter which competition you are in, we want to win it, no matter who else is in it, or whether it is an important trophy for other teams,” he said.

“We need to get used to the fact we are not in the Champions League this season.”

United meet Ajax in the first knockout stage of the competition, with the first leg away in Amsterdam on Thursday.

“Both teams have come out of the Champions League and they both have a great history,” he said.

“We have won a lot of European Cups between us, so it will be a very interesting game.”