Javier Hernandez: Great night for Manchester United, terrible night for Chicharito

As Manchester United returned to Europe's elite competition, Hernandez's hopes of re-establishing himself at Old Trafford receded

Hernandez after his penalty miss (GETTY IMAGES)

It was a great night for Manchester United in Belgium, but one that Javier Hernandez will want to forget.

Louis van Gaal was celebrating after fulfilling his chief aim of returning Manchester United to the Champions League. Fans of the Red Devils delighted in ending their year exile from Europe's elite competition. Rooney ended his goal drought in style with a hat-trick against Club Brugge. And then there was Hernandez.

The Mexican striker, who was packed off to Real Madrid on loan last season, was brought on at the Jan Breydelstadion with 25 minutes to go.

Against tired Belgian opposition, it had the makings of the perfect night for the 'super-sub'. However the striker known also as Chicarito and Little Pea did everything he could to avoid finding the back of the net.

His first chance he headed wide at the far post.

Then Rooney won a penalty and with the United skipper seemingly already having had his fill, Hernandez stepped up to take it. It went very wrong, with a slip as he struck the ball seeing him contrive to slice it wide of the post.

This was how Van Gaal and assistant Ryan Giggs reacted to that particular miss...

Finally, in the last minute, he met Ashley Young's fine cross with an open goal but somehow put it over the bar.

Manchester United discover their group stage opposition on Thursday afternoon.