Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho said Henrikh Mkhitaryan is just ‘one step’ away from becoming a regular in his league team following his performance on Thursday night.
Mkhitaryan was recalled to the starting line-up by Mourinho against Feyenoord in the Europa League, and the Armenia international was his team’s outstanding performer, earning the Man of the Match award.
The attacking midfielder has not played in the Premier League since being hauled off at half-time of the Manchester derby in September while he did play in the Europa League a couple of weeks ago against Fenerbahce.
But after last night’s performance, Mourinho has revealed that his summer signing is just one step away from becoming a regular.
“He just needs now to try to replicate this type of performance in Premier League. He needs one more step,” he said, reports MEN.
“The Europa League is different, he needs one more step and it gives him the right to believe he can play in the next match and play with more physicality, more aggression.
“But he has the quality and that is why we bought him.”
Mkhitaryan was outstanding for the Red Devils as he created three chances against the Dutch side and threatened throughout, evening attempting six shots, which was more than their opponents as a team.
After starring for Borussia Dortmund last season, scoring 23 and assisting 26, Mkhitaryan has already shown he is a level above the Europa League.
United next play West Ham in the league on Sunday before then facing the east London club again in the EFL Cup on Wednesday.
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