Man-Management of Mkhitaryan shows Jose knows best

Henrikh Mkhitaryan enhanced his already burgeoning reputation with an impressive man of the match showing in the 3-0 win at Leicester. 

The gifted and mercurial Armenian got United rolling with a wonderful solo strike just before the break that showcased his scintillating talent. 
It was a goal very different from his effort against Sunderland, as he burst into the box with pace, poise and balance to despatch a finish high beyond Kasper Schmeichel.

Having moved from out wide to a roaming position behind Zlatan, Mkhitaryan also set up Juan Mata with a wonderful one-two move for the third goal.

"Mikki Ryan' has started our last six league games, which suggests that Jose is satisfied with his £28 million summer signing's adaption to both English football and his evolving United side.

Many of us had hoped to see Mikki involved more regularly earlier in the season, especially given the indifferent results and search for consistency. 

The press gleefully speculated that his continued absence from the team was down to a fall out between player and manager and that Mkhitaryan's United career would be ill-fated and short lived. 

The fact is that no-one, not even the most clued-up fan or well-connected journo, knows what goes on off the pitch and behind the scenes at a professional club. 
All we see is how a certain player performs in front of the watching world during the small 90-minute window of a match - but there's so much more going on that we don't hear about. 

Jose signed Mikki last summer for his creative, game changing abilities so, even though he didn't pick him in the early weeks, he must've had clear reasons for doing so. 

There's a similar situation unfolding now with Anthony Martial who has featured only sporadically having made four appearances in the side's last ten outings.

Again, we don't know the circumstances, but Martial stayed put in January and there's nothing to suggest that his immediate future lies away from Old Trafford.

Jose knows what he's doing as one of the best around and his track record speaks volumes. 

United may not be back at the summit of the English game just yet, but Jose and the players will be doing everything to change that.

As fans, we must have faith and trust that something special is going to happen.