IT’S a sight no Manchester United fan wanted to see, with in form Henrikh Mkhitaryan stretchered off after starring against Tottenham. And Jose Mourinho has confirmed the extent of his injury.
After picking up the man of the match gong and scoring in the 1-0 win, Mkhitaryan went down after a challenge from Spurs’ Danny Rose and was forced off the field via a stretcher in the 83rd minute.
But worst fears were allayed when boss Jose Mourinho confirmed post-game the injury will only keep the Armenian winger out for one week, meaning he is likely to miss upcoming games against Crystal Palace and West Brom but be fit to return on Boxing Day against Sunderland.
“It looks like next match no but it looks like it is nothing dangerous or needing surgery, so hopefully we will have Micki [on] Boxing Day,” Mourinho said of Mkhitaryan’s injury.
Mourinho added, when speaking about his player’s crucial goal: “The finish, the action [I like] because we recovered the ball high up the pitch and we were objective in that counterattack, we scored a fantastic goal, and it was so important for us to get that goal.
“The [opposition] goalkeeper wasn’t the man of the match – that was Mkhitaryan and he deserves that – but it could be him, too, and also the post.”
Mkhitaryan wasn’t the only player to go down injured in the game against Tottenham, with Belgian midfielder Moussa Dembele picking up a foot injury which will require scans on Monday.
Also, Southampton’s Charlie Austin will require surgery and faces three to four months out after dislocating his shoulder in Saints’ Europa League draw with Hapoel Be’er Sheva.
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