Man Utd's Mkhitaryan injured on international duty

Manchester United attacking midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan picked up an injury on international duty last night, making the former Borussia Dortmund player a doubt for the first Manchester derby of the season on 10 September.

Mkhitaryan was representing Armenia in a friendly match against the Czech Republic last night, when he had to be substituted in the first half after a collision with Czech defender Marek Suchy.

The 27-year-old appeared to have sustained an impact injury to his ribs, and he will undergo further tests before the full extent of the injury is known.

But with the Manchester derby on the horizon, United fans and manager José Mourinho will be sweating on the Armenian’s fitness.

It seems highly likely that Manchester City will be without star Argentinian striker Sergio Aguero for the derby, after the FA announced that they would be charging the former Atlético Madrid player with violent conduct for an elbow on West Ham United defender Winston Reid last weekend.

Mkhitaryan in yet to start a competitive game for the Red Devils since his £26 million switch from Dortmund, but a series of impressive cameos have brought about calls for the creative midfielder to start against City.

But Mourinho will now have to wait for the extent of Mkhitaryan’s injury to become known before making any plans for his derby line-up.