Manchester United may face an issue in the Manchester derby as Henrikh Mkhitaryan is said to have picked up an injury during his national duties. The Armenian captain was substituted in the first itself in their match against Czech Republic. United's summer signing collided heavily with Czech defender Marek Suchy and was subbed off immediately. It may also be a precaution to take him off the playing field, as Armenia face Denmark in a crucial World Cup qualification match three days later.
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The extent of the injury is yet to be known, as Armenia and Manchester United both face an anxious wait over his fitness. It is being reported that he has suffered a rib injury as he came off worst in the clash between the two players. Though Mkhitaryan has not started a game in the Premier League as he is getting used to the life in England, he did have an impressive cameo against Hull City. The 27-year-old is expected to play a crucial role under Jose Mourinho as the season progresses.
Talking to MUTV, Jose Mourinho expressed his concerns, "We keep eight outfield players and Sam Johnstone as the goalkeeper. We are going to lose the others and we don’t know the way they train, the way they recover, the life they are going to have with their national teams." Pep Guardiola had earlier stated that he would have wished for the Manchester derby to happen before the international break.
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Marouane Fellaini is another injury concern for Mourinho as he suffered a back injury during their last gasp 1-0 victory against Hull City. “I am going to lose Fellaini for a while. He has a muscle injury in his back and it is not good,” Mourinho said after the game. For their rivals, City have been given 24 hours to appeal against the charge slapped on Sergio Aguero by the FA. It will be a huge loss for the Citizens if they lose the Argentine for the derby.
Both the Manchester clubs were silent on deadline day as they finished their business before the final day. Both clubs have spent over £150 million this summer too, as the total amount spent by the Premier League clubs has crossed the £1 billion mark.
