Kevin Mirallas could be the key to getting the best out of Javier Hernandez at West Ham

David Moyes has his favourites. In fact, the Scot has become something of a parody of himself by taking the same players with him from club to club. Where would Darron Gibson be without Moyes? West Ham fans can probably expect Adnan Januzaj to arrive on loan at some point over the next few months. But one former player could prove useful for Moyes at his new club.

Talk turned to potential transfer targets almost as soon as Moyes got his feet underneath the desk at the London Stadium, with the January window looming on the horizon. Plenty have already been linked, but there appears to be more weight to the rumour concerning Kevin Mirallas than most. By all accounts, Moyes is plotting a move.

Many have derided this intention, pointing how Moyes is once again returning for former players at a new club, but Mirallas could be a good fit for West Ham. The Belgian is a mercurial talent, suffering a decline in form over the past two seasons or so, but there remains a spark in his play. That’s something the Hammers desperately need.

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More accurately, West Ham need someone to get the best out of Javier Hernandez. The Mexican international should be the focal point of their side. Slaven Bilic might have experimented with using the former Manchester United striker on the wings, instead deploying Andy Carroll as a target man, but Moyes must install Hernandez where he thrives – in the middle.

The summer signing of Hernandez was viewed as something of a coup for West Ham. Indeed, he possesses the quality to make an impact at the highest level. But so far, the Mexican has only found the net four times. That’s not the worst strike rate, taking into account that he’s only played 11 games, but he is capable of much better.

For the most part, though, Hernandez has been forced to live off scraps. West Ham’s attacking stats this season are woeful – Andre Ayew is their top assist maker with just two, Aaron Cresswell is their top key pass maker with just 1.4 per game, with Cresswell also their top cross maker (just 1.6 per game).

Marko Arnautovic was meant to be the supply line, signed from Stoke City in the summer. He was arguably just as significant an addition as Hernandez, but injuries have so far hindered the Austrian. Even in the games he has played, Arnautovic has struggled to live up to expectations. His lack of match sharpness has played a part in that.

Mirallas might not be a quick fix either. As previously referenced, the Belgian has also suffered his own dip in form of late, explaining why Everton are reportedly open to the notion of selling the winger to a Premier League rival. But he possesses a certain directness, a certain drive that could unlock the potential of Hernandez.

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Of course, there are questions held against Mirallas’ temperament as a professional too. David Unsworth recently dropped the Belgian for a Premier League match against Watford, with reports claiming it was down to a fracturing of the dressing room, with Mirallas at the centre.

“I was not excluded from the squad due to a lack of commitment during training,” Mirallas hit back while on international duty last week. “This was a manager decision and I was frustrated as I am fully committed to Everton since arriving in 2012 and I can’t accept our actual ranking. I apologise to my team-mates and the manager for not being able to cope at that moment with my frustration.”

From Mirallas’ perspective, West Ham would present him with the fresh start he has needed for quite some time. For West Ham, he could bring another dimension, something they don’t have, something they desperately lack. It may be a signing designed to get the best out of another player, Hernandez, but for Moyes that is key. This former player might be worth returning for.