West Bromwich 1 - Mancester United 2: Hernandez attempting to halt comparisons with Solskjaer

The Norwegian hit-man has returned home to begin his management career with Molde, having left behind a mountain of happy memories, top of which is his stoppage-time winner in the 1999 Champions League final.

Already, it seems Hernandez is being regarded with similar affection and following his late header at West Brom on Saturday, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson admitted there was something of Solskjaer in the Mexican newcomer.

But the player himself shrugs off such accolades.

At 22, Hernandez recognises he is only just starting his career. While the latest in a growing number of eye-catching headers kept United on top of the Premier League, he believes his eight goals so far are only the starting point for him at Old Trafford.

"It is great motivation for me when people say these things but I would say no," he smiled. "I need to work a lot to be like him."

Patrice Evra made sure he immersed himself in United culture when he first arrived from Monaco five years ago and he sees the resemblance.

"It is true," he argued. "Always when he comes on you feel like he will score. It is unbelievable. But I do think he wants to play more. When you play football you want to start every game."

Hernandez has not started a Premier League game since November 13, although he has made four substitute appearances, including cameos in all three Christmas matches so far.

While there was optimistic talk of Wayne Rooney being available for tomorrow's Old Trafford encounter with Stoke, the heavy blow he took to his ankle from a tackle by Chris Brunt at The Hawthorns surely means it would be a better idea to rest the England man even if recovery proved far swifter than initially feared when he limped off.

That would open the door for Hernandez to start alongside Dimitar Berbatov as United look to strengthen their position ahead of Arsenal's encounter with Manchester City 24 hours later.

Rooney took just three minutes to end his long wait for a goal in open play which stretched back to March and then helped hold his side together.

It was a frustrating afternoon for Baggies manager Roberto di Matteo, whose side were losing their fourth successive game.

They scored the goal of the contest, through James Morrison, who levelled Rooney's early effort with a thunderbolt volley, but was left cursing referee Chris Foy's inexplicable failure to dismiss Gary Neville and award a penalty for a first-half lunge on Graham Dorrans. His mood was not helped either by Peter Odemwingie missing when West Brom were awarded a spot-kick in the second half.

"It was very clear from everyone's view," said di Matteo of the incident with Neville. "Only the main man who was supposed to see it didn't. It was so clear. Neville didn't touch the ball and my player is through. I would have liked to see what we would have been like against 10 men. It wouldn't have meant we would have won but you never know."