Henrikh Mkhitaryan has vowed to succeed at Manchester United despite a difficult start to life in the Premier League.

The Armenian looked like a bargain when United signed him for £26.3million in the summer after a season in which he was directly involved in 55 goals for Borussia Dortmund, scoring 23 and assisting 32.

He's found game time hard to come by at Old Trafford though, with his one start coming in the Manchester derby when he was hauled off at half-time.

Mkhitaryan made his first appearance since the derby as a substitute in last week's Europa League defeat to Fenerbahce but didn't impress manager Jose Mourinho, who told the player he "needs to do more" before omitting him from the squad altogether for Sunday's win over Swansea.

Mkhitaryan's frustration at the lack of game-time is clear, as is his determination to prove his worth at Old Trafford.

Mourinho wasn't pleased with Mkhitaryan's display against Fenerbahce (
Image:
Chris McGrath)

"It is true that I get little time on the field, but I am not going to give in," he told reporters after being appointed as Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF in Armenia.

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

"I will not retreat, I will find the strength to reach my goal."

Mkhitaryan is one of several players under the spotlight, with Mourinho focusing his ire on attitudes within the United dressing room.

The Armenian is determined to prove his worth to Mourinho, pictured (
Image:
Getty)

Chris Smalling and Luke Shaw appear to be the latest in the firing line, with the Portuguese boss seemingly questioned the validity of the defenders' absence from Sunday's 3-1 win at Swansea.

"We have players with problems, players on the pitch with problems," Mourinho said.

"Every sport - and I know that because I have friends from other sports who play at the highest level - you play when you are not 100 per cent.

Mourinho questioned the mentalities of Smalling, second left, and Shaw, right, on Sunday (
Image:
Man Utd via Getty Images)

"I have a friend who is a big tennis player and he remembers more the times he plays in pain than without any pain.

"That's what I mean, to compete you have to go to the limit. It is a cultural thing for some. But that's not my culture. And more than me, Man United's (culture)."

Before the match Mourinho explained Smalling and Shaw did not feel in a condition to play at the Liberty Stadium, making them the most likely targets of his post-match comments.

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Smalling has been dealing with a foot complaint of late, while Shaw has been suffering with discomfort in the leg that was so horrifically fractured in two places in September 2015.

Such issues are understood to have flared up over the last week, causing the left-back a problem during Thursday's 2-1 Europa League defeat at Fenerbahce.

Smalling and Shaw are absent from the England squad as a result of their issues.

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