Hull City boss Steve Bruce hails Abel Hernandez for his '˜sweet 16' goal haul

WHEN a three-game ban was handed out to Abel Hernandez on video evidence a few days after Hull City's relegation had been confirmed last May, it seemed a fitting epitaph for a short stay in English football by the Uruguayan.

Signed from Palermo amid much fanfare the previous August for a club record £10m, the striker had faded badly after what had seemed a promising start.

A serious knee injury to partner Nikica Jelavic in the autumn had not helped, Hernandez suddenly being forced to play as a lone frontman – a role that palpably did not suit him.

But, even so, a return of four goals in 29 appearances – three of which had come alongside Jelavic on his first five starts – was a sorry return on such a significant investment by manager Steve Bruce.

So, when the FA banned Hernandez retrospectively for punching Phil Jones in the final-day draw with Manchester United that sealed Hull’s fate, that seemed to be that.

A move away, most likely back to Italy where Hernandez had netted 14 times in 28 games the previous campaign, seemed certain.

Seven months on, however, and the 25-year-old is creating a buzz again in the East Riding after netting 16 times already this term.

Hernandez is, by some distance, the Tigers’ top scorer and last Saturday he bagged only the second hat-trick of his career to leave manager Bruce purring.

“A finisher is a finisher,” said the Hull manager.

“Even in the five-a-side last Friday in training, he had two chances that he stuck away with ease. That is what finishers do.

“A good goalscorer stays cool when they’re through on goal and you just think, ‘goal’. He has got that confidence at the moment, you can see it in him.

“Last season he would hit people on the line. I remember going to Leicester (for a goalless draw last March) and he hit the post in the last minute. It never quite went for him.

“But, now, he is starting to get a grip of the language and to feel a little bit settled. He is 18 or 19 months into his time in England now and that has helped him.

“He is going along great at the minute. He cost a lot of money, but he has put that to the back of his mind now and scores all sorts of goals – be it six-yard tap-ins, penalties or outside the box.”