Robbie Savage: What Henrikh Mkhitaryan can bring to Man United
Henrikh Mkhitaryan will bring the energy and freshness of a new Manchester United signing, according to Robbie Savage
Robbie Savage has questioned why Jose Mourinho has been so reluctant to utilise Manchester United summer signing Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
The Armenia international was signed in a £30m deal from Bundesliga outfit Borussia Dortmund in the summer transfer window.
However, Mkhitaryan has had his first-team opportunities limited since a disappointing first-half performance in a 2-1 loss to Manchester City before the attacking midfielder was hauled off at half-time.
The 28-year-old was restored to the starting line-up on Thursday night for the visit of Dutch side Feyenoord in their penultimate Europa League group-stage fixture.
And Mkhitaryan starred in the heart of Mourinho’s midfield as the Red Devils eased to a their biggest win under Mourinho – a 4-0 victory courtesy of goals from Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata, Jesse Lingard and a Brad Jones own goal.
Discussing Mkhitaryan’s performance in the Europa League clash, Savage wrote in his Daily Mirror column:
“Most Manchester United fans, and the wider football public, have just one question for manager Jose Mourinho after their Europa League demolition of Feyenoord:
“Where have you been hiding Henrikh Mkhitaryan all season?
“On Thursday night, Mkhitaryan looked every inch the man who won last season’s Bundesliga Player of the Year – he was dynamic and powerful, his movement and awareness were top-class and he was always looking for the ball.
“So where has the Special One been hiding him?
“Or, more to the point, WHY has the Special One been hiding him?
“It’s almost as if they have signed the same man twice: once in the summer, which was a false start, and now.
“Mkhitaryan looks like he could bring the energy and freshness of a new signing to Old Trafford.”
Manchester United signed four players in the summer transfer window following Mourinho’s appointment as Louis van Gaal’s replacement.
