Javier Hernandez has spoken of his frustration at being given limited opportunities in the Manchester United first team this season.

The 24-year-old has started just seven Premier League games this season and has slipped down to fourth choice with Robin van Persie, Danny Welbeck and Wayne Rooney all ahead of him in the pecking order.

Javier Hernandez
Javier Hernandez has struggled to gain regular starts in the United first team this season. [Reuters]

While Hernandez would have known that the arrival of Van Persie would have meant more competition, he would still have been confident of proving his worth as his record in front of goal is particularly impressive.

The Mexican striker has still managed to score eight league goals but he has often found himself having to make an impact from the substitutes bench. He has been introduced on ten occasions in the league and actually found himself starting a much larger proportion of games in the Champions League where he scored three goals in five starts.

This has led to speculation about his future and Hernandez has admitted that it has been a difficult season.

"It is frustrating," Hernandez told The Sun. "All the players in the world want to start every single game, every week. Of course any player wants that.

"I'm happy to be at this club but I'd love more games. My attitude is that even when the gaffer wants me to be on the bench I'm going to do my best. I have to respect the club, Manchester United. But of course I would like to start more."

Van Persie's early season form had made it impossible for Sir Alex Ferguson to drop the striker, but even in recent months when he scored just one goal in 13 games prior to his penalty against Stoke, he has remained one of the regulars on the teamsheet.

However, Hernandez understands the situation and knows that strikers can go through difficult spells in front of goal.

"It's part of football," added the Mexico international. "This can happen, sometimes you are scoring a lot of goals and sometimes a few. But we need to keep creating the chances and we will score."

Manchester United would certainly not want to lose the prolific forward but there has been speculation linking him with a move to Atletico Madrid, as part of a swap deal for Radamel Falcao.

With United just a few wins away from lifting the Premier League title, Ferguson knows the importance of having four world-class strikers to call upon and would certainly not want to lose Chicharito without having a replacement lined up.