Manchester United have requested for Henrikh Mkhitaryan to be withdrawn from Armenia this international break.

The 27-year-old arrived from Borussia Dortmund over the summer and has not played for three weeks because of a thigh injury.

The club want him to continue his rehabilitation as he has only started training with Jose Mourinho’s squad at Carrington last week.

Head of Manchester United FC Medicine and Science medical, Dr. Steve McNally wrote:

“Henrikh is still undergoing late stage rehabilitation from the left thigh muscle injury that he sustained earlier this month whilst playing for Manchester United. 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.”

United have asked the Armenian Football Federation to leave their captain out and he is set to miss two crucial World Cup qualifiers against Romania and Poland.

He has made just one start for United since his move and was hauled off at half-time against Manchester City after he was rushed back into action early after picking up an injury.

After considering how long it took him to settle at the Westfalenstadion, a slow start was expected, but hopes are he is able to find is feet under Mourinho soon as United face the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City after the break.