There are very few players who have enjoyed a more productive first season in a Manchester United shirt than Javier Hernandez.

The centre forward’s impact has been so impressive that he was recently awarded the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year trophy, as voted for by United supporters. If that wasn’t enough, the Mexican became the first Red Devils player to score 20 goals in a debut season since Ruud Van Nistelrooy nine years ago.

However, as United prepare for Saturday’s Champions League Final against Barcelona at Wembley Stadium, some are questioning whether Hernandez will be handed a place in Sir Alex Ferguson’s starting XI.

Exclusion for Chicarito will almost certainly see United line up in a 4-5-1 formation and, with that in mind, Footy Matters has assessed the pluses and minuses of both strategies.

WITH HERNANDEZ (4-4-2)

Likely Line-up:

Van der Sar

Fabio – Ferdinand – Vidic – Evra

Valencia – Carrick – Giggs – Park

Rooney – Hernandez

In recent important clashes against the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Schalke 04, Ferguson has opted to partner Hernandez with Wayne Rooney.

The front pair have been a mainstay from March onwards as United went on to claim a record-breaking 19^th league title while also negotiating a passage through to their third Champions League final in four years.

It is little coincidence that Hernandez’s presence has brought the best out Rooney. The England frontman has thrived with Chicarito as a striking companion.

But it has not all been about Rooney. Hernandez’s pace has been a thorn in the side of many defences this season – his recent early strike against Chelsea, where he split John Terry and David Luiz, highlights this point perfectly.

And it is not just a clinical touch that the 22-year-old provides; he brings a workrate to the United frontline that has been lacking since the departure of Carlos Tevez.

Many in Spain feel that the majority of Barcelona’s moves are started with a pass between goalkeeper Victor Valdes and central defender Gerard Pique. With Hernandez in the vicinity, such a tactic will be hard to perform.

You would fancy World Cup winning defenders Pique and Carles Puyol to deal with the threat of Rooney playing up front on his own, but the inclusion of Hernandez would give the duo a different threat to nullify.

WITHOUT HERNANDEZ (4-5-1)

Likely Line-up:

Van der Sar

Fabio – Ferdinand – Vidic – Evra

Valencia – Carrick – Anderson – Giggs – Park

Rooney

There are very few sides that have managed to beat Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona armed with a 4-4-2 formation.

The Catalan club famously line-up in a 4-5-1 formation, with Lionel Messi and Pedro flanking striker David Villa. World Cup winners Andreas Iniesta, Xavi and Sergio Busquets provide the back up in midfield.

With the attendance of such world class talent, Ferguson could well be tempted to match his opponents with a five-man midfield, thus introducing either Anderson or Darren Fletcher into proceedings. After all, it’s a formation that has provided Ferguson with so much success in recent European clashes.

If, as expected, Barcelona control a large majority of the possession, an extra midfield player could prove to be a valuable asset for underdogs United. A four-man midfield unit could afford too much space to the Spanish champions, a prospect which will have Messi and co licking their lips.

Brazilian Anderson will inject some energy into the United engine room, something Michael Carrick and Ryan Giggs are not renowned for. The 23-year-old midfielder has also scored three goals in recent weeks – two against Schalke in the semi-final second leg and one against Blackpool.

Should Ferguson opt for the fit again Darren Fletcher, he’ll know that the Scotland captain rarely lets his side down in big matches. In fact, his suspension and subsequent absence for the 2009 Champions League final between these two sides is one of the reasons given for United’s defeat that Rome evening.

So, 4-4-2 or 4-5-1? Hernandez or not? Have your say….