Mourinho will keep faith with struggling Mkhitaryan

Manchester - Jose Mourinho admits Henrikh Mkhitaryan is struggling to adapt to life at Manchester United but insists he has no intention of selling the Armenian just three months after his £26 million signing.

Mkhitaryan has played just 104 minutes of Premier League football this season since arriving from Borussia Dortmund in the close-season.

After problems with a thigh injury, he has been physically fit for a number of weeks but still unable to force his way into Mourinho's first team plans, even failing to make the bench in the midweek League Cup victory over Manchester City.

Mkhitaryan has not been involved since a harrowing experience in the home league defeat to City when he was substituted at half-time.

But despite the 27-year-old's tough introduction to life in English football, Mourinho still believes he will become an impact player in the Premier League and has no intention of parting company with him in the near future.

"Some players, with their profile they are adapted to come and play, some others they need more time," Mourinho said on Friday.

"Time to feel the intensity and the aggression, the game without the ball, the competitiveness.

"Many times players come from different countries. The style of football is different and the reality is different for sure in terms of competitiveness.

"There's no other country where it doesn't matter the team you play against, you have to play at the highest level.

"If you don't you have no chance. Mikhi needs time to become the top player he can be."

Mourinho attempted to make a distinction between being physically fit and match fit in explaining why Mkhitaryan is struggling to stake a claim for a place.