Daily Mirror, UK
 Friday


Henrikh in a fight for future: Shape up or it's the end, Hen

by DAVID McDONNELL



MANCHESTER UNITED outcast Henrikh Mkhitaryan is facing a battle to
convince manager Jose Mourinho that he deserves to reclaim his place.

Mkhitaryan's form has deserted him to such an extent Mourinho has axed
him from United's last two match-day squads, despite the attacking
midfielder being fully fit.

Mourinho left Mkhitaryan (above) out of the squad that beat Newcastle
4-1 - and made the 28-year-old travel to Basel before omitting him
from Wednesday's disappointing 1-0 Champions League defeat in
Switzerland.

Mourinho hopes the stigma of being dropped will jolt the Armenian from
his slumber.

Signed from Borussia Dortmund for £27million in July 2016, Mkhitaryan
enjoyed an impressive start this season - producing a handful of
assists to apparently cement his place as United's No.10.

But his form dropped off, with Mourinho and his United coaches
deciding he no longer warranted his place and agreeing to drop him
completely.

Mkhitaryan has been on the receiving end of Mourinho's 'tough love'
approach before. He was exiled for nearly two months last season
following a calamitous 45 minutes in United's 2-1 derby defeat by
City.

The playmaker returned to become one of United's most effective
players as they won the League Cup and Europa League.

Mourinho has preferred Juan Mata, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial
in attacking roles recently, while Jesse Lingard is in favour again -
and £89m Paul Pogba back in business after injury.