Former player and now BBC pundit Noel Whelan believes that given the season Leeds United’s Pablo Hernandez has had in the 2018/19 campaign, he could well give us just 12 more months before drawing the curtain on his time at Elland Road.
The 34-year-old made the switch to Leeds originally on a loan spell back in the summer of 2016, later joining on a permanent deal and to date he has well over 100 appearances to his name, returning 27 goals and numerous assists. This season alone he has 12 goals and 12 assists and he’s played a key role for manager Marcelo Bielsa as we battle for promotion back to the Premier League.
Speaking to Football Insider this week after Hernandez was named in the PFA Championship Team of the Season after being ignored in the EFL one, Whelan explained.
📰 | #LUFC trio Liam Cooper, Pablo Hernandez and Pontus Jansson have all been named in the @PFA Championship Team of the Year
— Leeds United (@LUFC) April 24, 2019
“This season is the best I have ever seen him play. He has carried Leeds at times and been instrumental in everything they have done. Everyone knows the quality and talent he has on the ball, but he is a leader as well and has showed tremendous desire and tenacity. He is a class above everyone else at Leeds United. If we get into the Premier League or stay in the Championship, given his age, I’m expecting next season to be Pablo’s last season with us.”
With talk of a 12 month option kicking in if we achieve promotion, Pablo has a few years left yet even if he can’t be an ever present, so I’m not so sure he’d be off just yet. Or, at least I hope.