Manchester United Asks Armenia to Exclude Mkhitaryan from Upcoming World Cup Qualifying Matches

YEREVAN — Manchester United have written a letter to the Armenian FA requesting that Henrikh Mkhitaryan be allowed to withdraw from international duty.

Armenia face Romania on Saturday and Poland three days later, but a statement on the Football Federation of Armenia’s website read: “Henrikh Mkhitaryan will probably miss upcoming matches of the Armenian national team against Romania and Poland.

“Football Federation of Armenia received an official letter from Manchester United on the permission of Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s withdrawal from the upcoming training camp and official matches.”

In the letter from United to the Armenian FA, club doctor Steve McNally wrote: “Although his progress has been good over the past week, he is participating in limited aspects of team training and is not yet able to train fully without restrictions or play competitively.

“In view of that, I would be grateful if he could be allowed to withdraw from the national team for the forthcoming training camp and FIFA World Cup Qualifying matches in order to remain in Manchester to complete his rehabilitation.”

Mkhitaryan joined United in the summer from Borussia Dortmund for £26.3 million, but has struggled to establish himself thus far.

He has featured just four times in six Premier League games, starting only one – the defeat to Manchester City in September’s derby.

The winger exacerbated a pre-existing injury from international duty in that game, and has not featured for club or country since.

He started training again with the United squad last week, but the club insist that his thigh problem would be worsened by playing games at this stage.

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho said after the 4-1 win over Leicester City on Sept. 24 that Mkhitaryan was not injured but was “not 100 percent.”