Manchester United will rebuff any attempts to prise Anthony Martial away from Old Trafford in January after José Mourinho told the striker to follow Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s example in forcing his way into the starting line-up.

Martial has been targeted by Seville as a loan signing next month after finding himself on the fringe of Mourinho’s plans, but United have no intention of allowing the France forward to leave.

Watch Mkhitaryan’s incredible backheel volley

The likes of Memphis Depay, Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger will be allowed to move when the transfer window opens, but Mourinho believes that Martial merely needs time to work on his game.

A late cameo as a substitute in the Boxing Day victory over Sunderland was the 21-year-old’s first appearance in a fortnight and the player