Former Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez has revealed that Louis van Gaal gave him no option but to leave, as the club's goalscoring troubles continue.

The Mexico international has been a revelation since joining Bayer Leverkusen with 17 goals in 20 appearances so far this season.

Speaking to Spanish TV show Fiebre Maldini, Hernandez explained that he wanted to stay at Old Trafford but Van Gaal gave him a near impossible task.

Javier Hernandez has been in sensational form for Bayer Leverkusen since joining in the summer

The Mexican claims Louis van Gaal (left) told he him had a 'one per cent' chance of playing

The 27-year-old netted 37 goals in 103 appearances during his time in England

He said: 'I didn't have the intention to leave but I wanted more playing time. Van Gaal told me that he already had his strikers, that I would have to fight for a place but could take an offer if an opportunity arrives.

'The board told me that I could go on loan to Real Madrid and it was not a difficult decision for me.

'Then I returned to Manchester. I started to have opportunities but one day I spoke with Van Gaal and I had only a one per cent chance of playing so I needed to make magic. So I moved to Bayer.'

Hernandez netted a hat-trick as Leverkusen thrashed Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday

The £7.3million spent on the striker was an absolute bargain as he fires Leverkusen into European contention

JAVIER HERNANDEZ CAREER STATISTICS Year Team Apps Goals 2006-10 Guadalajara 64 26 2010-15 Manchester United 103 37 2014-15 Real Madrid (loan) 23 7 2015- Bayer Leverkusen 20 17

The 27-year-old netted 37 goals in 103 appearances during his time in England and was linked with moves to Premier League rivals Tottenham and West Ham.

Hernandez bagged himself a hat-trick over the weekend as Leverkusen ran riot against Borussia Monchengladbach.

The German side paid £7.3million for his services and he is eight goals behind Bundesliga top scorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Borussia Dortmund.

The striker spent last season on-loan at La Liga giants Real Madrid, who had the chance to purchase him, but he struggled to hold down a regular place under Carlo Ancelotti.

He did, however, net the winning goal in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals against rivals Atletico Madrid before scoring a double away to Celta Vigo four days later.