Like in music, footballers can also suffer from ‘sophomore syndrome’.
When a player has a debut that exceeds expectation, second time around it is likely that they will fail to live up to the high standard they have set for themselves.
This summer Javier Hernandez was on fire with Mexico but a knock suffered in training saw him miss the start of the season.
He has struggled with knocks and injuries since and whereas last season he was the golden boy, this time around he is finding things a little harder.
Danny Welbeck is more than offering a challenge in terms of playing time and he has lost some of that surprise factor that he had last term as players, as well as managers, are attempting different ways to counter the potent threat he possess.
But Chicharito won’t be deterred, in fact he looks forward to overcoming the challenges his second season has thrown up as he told MUTV:
“There are different circumstances because I have had more injuries this season, but I am still enjoying it. I am still learning and working hard, trying to improve day by day.
“Each year it is going to be more difficult. In the first season not only the defenders but also the coaches didn’t know me.
“Now, and in the third and fourth seasons, they are going to know me even more. But good players like Wayne (Rooney), (Robin) Van Persie and (Didier) Drogba have been here five, six years or more and still play at the same high level. I need to keep working to do the same.”
