Henrikh Mkhitaryan has had a slowish stat to his Manchester United career, but the Armenian is finally starting to make things happen.
After an impressive performance against Feyenoord in the Europa League last week, some thought he would get 90 minutes against West Ham United in the league on Sunday.
That didn’t happen, but he did return to the starting XI when the same opponents came to Old Trafford in the EFL Cup quarter-finals.
And Mkhitaryan made an instant impact, laying on the opening goal for Zlatan Ibrahimović inside two minutes.
WATCH: Zlatan Ibrahimovic scores early on for Man Utd and nearly injures himself doing it! Tune into SS1 now. https://t.co/Ursa1RVeB6
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) November 30, 2016
It was only *checks calculator* one goal, but that didn’t stop United fans getting very, very, very, very excited.
Just seen that sexy backheel by Mkhi!!!!
That is why you start him every game #MUNWHU
— Nick 🇵🇪 (@UTDPeruu) November 30, 2016
Mhki's backheel 🔥🔥
— Albo â„¢ (@albo_albert) November 30, 2016
https://twitter.com/TrendsManc/status/804056826107088896
There are some parallels with Shinji Kagawa’s first season at Old Trafford, and not just because both players arrived from Borussia Dortmund.
Like the Japan midfielder, Mkhitaryan has impressed whenever he has been given a chance, yet still seems to lack the trust of his manager when it comes to getting regular Premier League minutes.
https://twitter.com/UtdRantcast/status/804055651668414465
11 mins: beginning to think that Mkhitaryan isn't bad.
— Out of Context Bandwagons (@bifurcated_MBM) November 30, 2016
Perhaps there’s another reason why Mkhitaryan has struggled for game-time in the league.
Maybe Mourinho just didn’t want to play Mkhitaryan until he learned how to spell his name
— Ryan Rosenblatt (@RyanRosenblatt) November 30, 2016
But it does have people asking one question: with United outside the Champions League places, why haven’t we seen him strutting his stuff more regularly.
https://twitter.com/gregianjohnson/status/804053979944615938
Catch up with this week’s episode of Football Friday Live
