It was around this time last year that Jose Mourinho kept reiterating that he was not trying to push Morgan Schneiderlin or Memphis Depay out of Old Trafford when, in reality, their positions at Manchester United had become hopeless and a move was the only logical solution.

Depay duly left for Lyon, Schneiderlin for Everton. The tune was much the same on Friday when Mourinho admitted he would not stand in the way of any unhappy player leaving United in next month’s transfer window as long as the price was right.

It is a tried and trusted tactic – put the onus on the player at the same time as creating circumstances that leave him with his back against a wall.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan is not quite at that point, but his United career is at a crossroads 18 months after his £26.3 million move from Borussia Dortmund. The question is now less about his role in Mourinho’s starting XI and more about whether his exile from the Portuguese’s 18-man squad is temporary or something more serious.

The Armenian playmaker has been omitted from seven of the past eight squads, and few will be surprised if he is left out again against West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns on Sunday.