Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson insists he has no interest in selling Javier Hernandez.
The striker has scored 16 times this season yet still cannot secure himself a regular starting spot for the club's biggest games. He was not involved in either leg of the Champions League defeat to Real Madrid and with Robin van Persie now installed as Old Trafford's leading marksman, it is difficult to see the situation getting any better for Hernandez.
Little wonder therefore that the Mexican has been linked with a move away from United, who he joined as a virtual unknown from Guadalajara for just £7million in 2010. However, Ferguson has told any potential suitors not to waste their time by even making an inquiry.
"He's on a long contract and we won't be entertaining any interest from anyone," said Ferguson. "As far as we are concerned he is a really important player. He does something different from the other strikers and any time he comes into a game he changes it.
"It's not easy for me to leave him out because a 16-goal tally against the number of games he has started is a fantastic record. There's no evidence that he has been annoyed or disappointed.
"But it's difficult when you have got a player of Robin van Persie's form, and then you have got (Danny) Welbeck, (Wayne) Rooney, (Shinji) Kagawa. That's been the benefit of having a strong squad - it gives us an advantage over the other teams."
Manchester United defeated Sunderland 1-0 on Saturday, securing a seventh straight Premier League win despite Ferguson resting the likes of Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney and Patrice Evra with Monday's FA Cup quarterfinal replay against Chelsea in mind. United can seal the title with a home win over Manchester City in its next match on April 8.
''It was an important win,'' Ferguson said, ''as it means we go into the Manchester City game with at least a 15-point lead.''
The Associated Press was used in this report.
