Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez's recent goal scoring has led to renewed speculation surrounding his future, with Mexico head coach Miguel Herrera stating it may be better for the striker to take a step down from giants Real Madrid and Manchester United.

"Maybe he should go to a smaller, but still important club, where he would be a set starter and show that he is a great striker," Herrera said in an interview with Marca.

Herrera highlighted that Hernandez's goals-to-minutes-played ratio at Manchester United was higher than other strikers getting more minutes, but hasn't been surprised at his lack of playing time at Real Madrid.

"It doesn't surprise me that before he played very little because the competition at a club like Madrid is enormous," Herrera said about the 26-year-old, who is currently on loan at Real Madrid from Manchester United. "He's a striker who, even without playing, has progressed a lot."

Chicharito -- who has been quiet on his future -- has only started three La Liga games this season, but stated his case to be Real Madrid's starting striker ahead of the currently injured Karim Benzema by scoring the winner last Wednesday in the Champions League quarterfinal second leg against Atletico Madrid. The Guadalajara native followed that up with two well-taken goals in Los Blancos' 4-2 victory over Celta de Vigo on Sunday.

Chicharito has been the man of the moment for Real Madrid in regular striker Karim Benzema's absence. Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

This summer, Herrera said Hernandez is unlikely to feature for Mexico at CONMEBOL's Copa America tournament because CONCACAF's Gold Cup is the Mexican national team's number one priority.

In terms of his club future, Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal was quoted in one UK newspaper as saying that Hernandez has already been sent away from the club once and said his recent goals don't change his situation.

In the same story from Marca, Herrera reserved some especially kind words about Hernandez's potential strike partner in the Gold Cup, Carlos Vela.

"Carlos could play wherever he decides, including the big teams in Europe," said Herrera. "He's the best Mexican forward at this time, for his quality. [He's] very complete, [he has a good] shot, [can] dribble [and can] hold up the ball."

Herrera explained that he couldn't understand why Vela had ruled himself out of selection for the World Cup, but that after his call-up for friendlies last November, the Real Sociedad striker called him one day at seven in the morning to confirm he was ready to return.