Giggs hails United goal hero Hernandez

Manchester United veteran Ryan Giggs has praised the "amazing" contribution of striker Javier Hernandez during the Mexican's first season with the English giants.

Hernandez, 22, has proved an exceptionally fine signing even by the standards of United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, becoming the first player to score 20 goals in his debut campaign at Old Trafford since Ruud van Nistelrooy 10 years ago.

The Mexican international, signed for £7million, a relatively small sum by modern football standards, has helped United to the brink of a record-breaking 19th English title and a place in this season's Champions League final against Spanish giants Barcelona.

Hernandez needed just 36 seconds to open the scoring in United's 2-1 win over Premier League rivals Chelsea on Sunday and Old Trafford great Giggs said: "Twenty goals in his first season is unbelievable.

"You are always in with a chance when you have a goalscorer like Javier in your team.

"He has made a fantastic impact, on and off the pitch.

"His English is perfect, which has helped, and his goal just sums up his season," the Welsh midfielder added.

"Sometimes those chances can come a bit early for you. You are not quite up to speed. Thirty seconds, he gets a chance, he scores.

"He deserves everything that has been said about him."

Both Giggs and Ferguson are on the brink of winning their 12th English title with United but one-club man Giggs refused to get carried away just yet.

"We have a great chance haven't we?" he said. "We have to get a point from two games, one of which is at home, where our form has been brilliant.

"But mathematically we are not there, so we can't celebrate."

United can seal their latest championship, and so surpass the record of 18 English titles they currently share with arch-rivals Liverpool, away to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.