"Leeds would get 100 points easily" - Prime Pablo Hernandez claim made in player return debate | OneFootball

Football League World's Leeds United fan pundit says a prime Pablo Hernandez could guide the current Whites squad to promotion

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Leeds United are vying for automatic promotion, following their relegation from the Premier League in 2023, and currently sit third in the Championship table.

However, the Whites are just two points behind league leaders Sunderland, so are firmly in contention for a top-two spot, alongside the Black Cats and Sheffield United.

Daniel Farke's men picked up a 2-0 win over basement boys Queens Park Rangers in their last Championship outing, prior to the November international break, and will have to continue their winning ways in order to eclipse either the Black Cats or the Blades.

Leeds fan pundit makes Pablo Hernandez admission

Amid the Whites' battle for automatic promotion, Football League World asked one of our Leeds fan pundits, Adam Elliott, if he could bring back one former player to the current squad, who would it be, and why would he fit so well in the current team?

Adam said: "Leeds have created the second-most xG (expected goals) in the league, so far, so creating chances isn't necessarily an issue for this side in most games.

"However, there are some fixtures this season where we have seen that one moment of quality and individual brilliance could be the difference to turn no points into one, or one point into three, which makes all the difference, as you're chasing down promotion.

"Whether that's from smashing a shot through a crowd of bodies, or being the sort of playmaker that, unlike others, can pick a pass and break lines.

"And only one player springs to mind that ticks those boxes for me, and that is Pablo Hernandez.

"He has those qualities in abundance, he also has set-piece ability that not many players in this squad have in their locker, but above all else, he really is a class act, who can turn a game in an instant.

"He's really someone I could wax lyrical all day about, but he was called 'El Mago' or 'The Wizard' for a reason, while he was at Leeds, with his invention and ingenuity, which is lacking in profile terms in the forward line for me.

"So, if I could have a prime Pablo Hernandez (as seen) during the (Marcelo) Bielsa time at the club, that's the kind of player that I would love for this squad to have.

"I think that would be the missing piece that could easily turn us into champions this season.

"He's so clever, obviously, and his ability to pick passes, and his combination play is really excellent.

"So you can imagine that Largie Ramazani, Willy Gnonto and the like would have so much fun playing with him, and I think Leeds would get 100 points easily this season, if they had another player like that, like a prime Pablo Hernandez in this team."

Hernandez was a class act for Leeds

It is no wonder that Adam is so full of praise for Hernandez, who played a key part in the Whites' promotion-winning campaign back in 2019/20.

The creative ace produced a fantastic return of nine goals and nine assists in 36 league appearances as the West Yorkshire outfit won the Championship title in 2020.

But in addition to his notable ability, he was a fantastic servant at Elland Road, who first arrived in 2016, and continued producing high-quality performances for the Whites throughout tough times, such as during the 2017/18 season, in which they finished 13th.

After firing Bielsa's men to promotion, and then making 16 Premier League appearances the following season, Hernandez left the club in 2021 as a modern day legend.