Rafael Benitez has hailed Henrikh Mkhitaryan as an “amazing player” despite his recent poor form that has infuriated Manchester United fans.
The Armenia international has started 10 of United’s 11 league matches this season but he has been substituted by Jose Mourinho every time and has become a scapegoat for the team’s recent troubles in front of goal.
But Magpies manager Benitez namechecked the playmaker, 28, as one of the dangermen facing his Newcastle United side when they travel to Old Trafford for Saturday evening’s Premier League showdown.
Asked about United attacker Romelu Lukaku at his Friday media briefing, Benitez named the players Mourinho can call upon who are of the highest calibre, calling Mkhitaryan “an amazing player”, as quoted by the official Newcastle Twitter account.
RB when asked about Romelu Lukaku: “Lukaku is a threat. He can score goals. You have Mata, Rashford, Martial. Mkhitaryan is an amazing player. Everyone is a threat in this team.” #NUFC pic.twitter.com/YnOiwk2haz
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) November 17, 2017
Mkhitaryan has kept his place in the United starting XI despite a series of mediocre performances in recent weeks, prompting a section of supporters calling for him to be axed and even sold in the forthcoming window after another poor performance.
OPINION
Mkhitaryan is indeed a special player but it has not gone all his own way during a mixed spell at United since his mega-money transfer in the summer of 2016. Once regarded as one of the Bundesliga’s outstanding players during his Borussia Dortmund days, the playmaker has spent most of his time at Old Trafford playing in a tactical straitjacket. It hangs heavily, and his attacking threat has diminished. His 16 matches in all competitions this season have yielded two goals and six assists, but supporters are expecting far more. After each of the recent matches against Chelsea, Benfica and Tottenham, a section of fans have been unabashed in destroying Mkhitaryan on social media. It is safe to say he has much to prove.