Henrikh Mkhitaryan withdraws from international duty

Good news for Manchester United fans, bad news for Armenia fans: Henrikh Mkhitaryan has been withdrawn from his international side ahead of the forthcoming international break.

According to the Manchester Evening News, United’s team doctor Steve McNally had informed the Armenian FA that Mkhitaryan is unable to train 'without restrictions' thanks to a troublesome thigh injury, and requested that the 27-year-old be allowed to remain in Manchester. Happily, the request seems to have been granted.

The FFA have issued a public statement:

Henrikh Mkhitaryan will probably miss upcoming matches of Armenian national team against Romania and Poland. Football Federation of Armenia received an official letter from Manchester United FC on the permission of Henrikh Mkhitaryan's withdrawal from upcoming training camp and official matches.

Mkhitaryan has had a frustrating start to life at United, but he’s surely going to be in first team contention once he manages to put these early niggles behind him. He’s surely too good a player to have warming the bench.