Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho believes Henrikh Mkhitaryan has shown strong mental fortitude to fight his way back into the team this season.
The Armenia international played little to no football after a poor first half display against Manchester City in September as Mourinho insisted that Mkhitaryan would need time to adapt to English football.
However, the 27-year-old has started the last three games for the Red Devils and has made a considerable impact, including scoring his first goal for the club against Zorya Luhansk last night in a 2-0 win in Odessa, Ukraine.
He also bagged two assists in Manchester United’s win over West Ham in the EFL Cup quarter-final last month and Mourinho admits that his summer signing has shown character to force his way back into his plans.
The Manchester United boss says that he always believed in the talent that Mkhitaryan has, but is pleased with the way the former Dortmund wide player put in the hard yards to adapt his game to suit the Red Devils’ style.
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"It was a strong mentality", Mourinho told the club's official website when asked about Mkhitaryan. "He was determined to fight against his difficult adaptation.
"He worked hard physically and tactically – the talent was there, we knew that when we bought him.
“Now he's playing good – in the Premier League, Europa League and EFL Cup, and now the goal means a little more happiness for him, so I'm very pleased."
With goals and assists in his last three starts, Mkhitaryan is expected to feature for Manchester United against Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Sunday.
