Henrikh Mkhitaryan not yet ready to be risked in big games by Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho

JOSE MOURINHO says he cannot yet risk Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the big games for Manchester United.

The £30million buy has started only one match since his summer switch from Borussia Dortmund.

That was in the Premier League derby against Manchester City on September 10 where he had a nightmare before being hooked at the break.

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He was diagnosed with a thigh injury after the game and was not fit for selection again until October 17 for the trip to Liverpool.

But United boss Mourinho did not pick him in that squad and he has only been on the bench once since then, in the 2-1 away defeat to Fenerbahce earlier this month.

Asked why Mkhitaryan is still absent from the squad, Mourinho said: “He needs less pressure and better conditions for him to express his qualities.”

The manager insists Mkhitaryan, 27, will get some action on Thursday at home to Feyenoord. But he believes the more high-profile clashes — like that against Arsenal last Saturday — are not for him right now.

Mourinho added: “I told him, ‘This was not the game for you’.

“I don’t think he needs ten or 20 minutes from the bench. I think you need a good game and you need to either start or, if not, to come on for the second half.

“I told him that he is going to be involved in the game against Feyenoord.

“He is trying. Obviously he is not happy but he is transforming his frustration in a good way, which is close the mouth, work hard and try to adapt.”

It seems an incredible situation for a player who was a regular for Dortmund over three seasons.

He was voted the best player in the Bundesliga last season after scoring 23 goals. And it would seem odd if such a highly-rated player would want this to go on beyond the January transfer window.

However, Armenian Mkhitaryan insists he is determined to be a success at United.

He said: “It is true that I get little time on the field but I am not going to give in.

“I went a long way to play at Manchester United, so nothing will prevent me from achieving my dream.

“I will not retreat. I’ll find the strength to reach my goal.”

The Arsenal game may not have been right for Mkhitaryan but it was going ­swimmingly for Phil Jones — until the Gunners equalised.

United dominated but were caught out by Olivier Giroud’s headed equaliser late on.

Fit-again defender Jones was gutted with the 1-1 draw, admitting: “It feels like we have been slapped 6-0!

“We dominated the game from start to finish. Even when they had a spell of possession, they never tested us.

“I thought we defended well, created chances. They got one chance and scored.”