MANCHESTER UNITED star Henrikh Mkhitaryan has not travelled with the squad for tonight’s Premier League game against Watford at Vicarage Road.
Manchester United go up against Marco Silva’s in-form Watford aiming to breathe new life into the Premier League title race.
The Red Devils currently sit eight points behind Manchester City at the summit with Pep Guardiola’s side cruising to a first league win since Manuel Pellegrini scooped the prize in 2014.
However, they will face a Watford team tonight brimming with confidence after thumping Newcastle 3-0 at St James’ Park at the weekend.
And the Times say that Mkhitaryan will not have to face the dreaded Hornets nest.
Just short of 18 months on from his Manchester United arrival and the jury remains out on the Armenia international.
Mkhitaryan blossomed in the Bundesliga for Borussia Dortmund but continues to struggle for consistency in England.
The 28-year-old started the season in fine form – racking up five assists from his first two games – but there have been too few highlights in the time since.
And the Times say he is out of tonight’s game is another blow to his hopes of salvaging his Old Trafford career.
Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho recently accused Mkhitaryan of ‘disappearing’ during games.
“I was not happy with his last performances,” he said.
“I’m not speaking about one or two, I’m speaking about three, four or five.
“He started the season very well and after that, step by step, he was disappearing.
“His performance levels in terms of goalscoring and assists, pressing, recovering the ball high up the pitch, bringing the team with him as a No10, were decreasing.
“That was enough [to drop him] because the others worked to have a chance. Everybody works to have a chance. It’s as simple as that.”
Source:www.express.co.uk