Former Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves says he cannot believe Henrikh Mkhitaryan hasn't featured more under Jose Mourinho this season.
The playmaker - signed from Borussia Dortmund for £26million in the summer - has only made four appearances in the Premier League, featuring no more than 45 minutes in any of those occurrences.
After nursing a slight injury in September, the Armenia international has returned to full fitness, but continues to be overlooked by Mourinho.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan at Borussia Dortmund last season:
Games: 51
Goals: 23
Assists: 20
Can't wait till he gets fully fit & Plays for Utd ? pic.twitter.com/ZGnmOsiVRS
"He needs to play, I can't believe that he's not getting a look-in. He would be a banker in my starting XI,'' Hargreaves told the "?Daily Mail.
"He had a slow start at Dortmund too and he was the players' player of the year last season. He got 23 goals and 32 assists, which is staggering numbers.
"This wasn't in a terrible league against pub teams and I can't think of anybody who could put up those numbers besides Messi and Ronaldo. He's a top player and we haven't seen it yet at United."?
A £26.3 million view for Henrikh Mkhitaryan at Old Trafford. ? (? @sistoney67) pic.twitter.com/jhFG6j6cFM
Hargreaves attributes Mkhitaryan's continuing omission to possible mental fragility.
"The thing is, he's such a wonderful player but I think he's also quite a sensitive guy. It would have been perfect if he started off flying with goals and assists, but the slow start has probably hit his confidence."?
United face local rivals Manchester City in the second Manchester derby of the season in the EFL Cup on Wednesday, and it is yet to be seen whether Mkhitaryan will be trusted with a role in the game.
Both sides go into the game in poor form, United with one win in the last six league games while City are winless in five in all competitions.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan's 2015/16 Bundesliga season:
82 chances created
15 assists
11 goals
Can't get into Man Utd's Europa League team. pic.twitter.com/im2WF8vWzF
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