Why does a player of Henrikh Mkhitaryan's quality need time to adapt to the Premier League?

ByEurosport

Updated 28/10/2016 at 16:46 GMT

Jose Mourinho says it will take time for Henrikh Mkhitaryan to cope with the rigours of Premier League life, but has no doubt the attacking midfielder will flourish at Manchester United.

So outstanding for Borussia Dortmund in recent seasons, expectations were naturally high when the 27-year-old pitched up at Old Trafford in a £26.3million deal.

Mkhitaryan, the third signing of the summer, penned a four-year deal with the option to extend for a fifth, but after just a matter of months there are questions over the Armenian's future.

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While a thigh injury played a part in restricting him to just 104 minutes of Premier League football, his return to fitness has not brought with it a recall to the squad.

Mkhitaryan's omission from Wednesday's EFL Cup win against Manchester City - the last team he lined-up against back on September 10 - fuelled speculation about his position, but Mourinho insists it is merely a matter of sharpness keeping him out.

"He's not injured," the United boss said. "Sometimes I confuse the meaning 'fit' in the English language.

"'Fit' sometimes you have the view is if you are not injured and sometimes 'fit' is in great condition and ready to compete. That's a different thing for me.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan shone during his time with Borussia Dortmund

Image credit: Reuters

"In Portuguese, we use different words for the different situations. Mkhitaryan is not injured, he is training with the team 100 per cent. Some players, their profile they are really adapted to come and to play.

"Some other players need more time - time to feel it, to feel the intensity and the aggression, the game without the ball, the competitiveness.

"Does Mkhi needs time to become the top player we know he can be? Yes, I think he needs."

OUR VIEW

It's difficult to comprehend that Bundesliga's players' player of the 2015-16 season needs this long to adapt in England.

If it takes time to "feel the intensity and aggression" of the league as Mourinho suggests, how will he learn from the stands?

Mourinho clearly deems it a risk to expose the Armenian too early, but he undoubtedly has the quality to answer these concerns.

The unanswered question surrounding this issue is when Mkhitaryan will return to the fold.

A short run of tough fixtures clearly came at the wrong time for him. Away games against Liverpool and Chelsea preceded the League Cup clash against rivals Manchester City.

Surely a home game against Burnley is the perfect opportunity for Mkhitaryan to learn the ropes?

Additional copy from PA Sport

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