Monday 3 October 2016 22:38, UK
Manchester United have asked Armenia not to call up Henrikh Mkhitaryan for their upcoming World Cup Qualifiers.
The Armenia captain has been out since injuring a thigh muscle during last month's derby defeat to Manchester City at Old Trafford.
United are hoping their £26m midfielder will be given permission to work on his fitness rather than join up for Group E games against Romania and Poland.
The club's head of medicine, Steve McNally, said in a statement to the Armenian Football Federation (FFA): "Henrikh is still undergoing late stage rehabilitation from the left thigh muscle injury that he sustained earlier this month whilst playing for Manchester United.
"In view of that I would be grateful if he could be allowed to withdraw from the national team for the forthcoming training camp and FIFA World Cup Qualifying matches in order to remain in Manchester to complete his rehabilitation."
A statement on the FFA statement said Mkhitaryan "will probably miss" the games in light of United's request.
Mkhitaryan has started just one game since joining United from Borussia Dortmund in the summer and is yet to score for his new club.
