Henrikh Mkhitaryan is quietly exerting ever greater influence on Manchester United, The National said in a frech article published on Saturday, August 5.

Following the high-profile departures of Wayne Rooney and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Mkhitaryan has assumed a senior role in the team, the publication says. At 28, it adds, he is not quite elder statesman but neither is he wet behind the ears.

"It may have taken a while for him to find his feet but Mkhitaryan now stands tall at Old Trafford. It is obvious from his pre-season outings he will start this Premier League campaign in much better shape than his began the previous. The Armenian has the ability to shine on his own and bring out the best of young talents such as Romelu Lukaku, Marcus Rashford, Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial," The National writes.

"With Mkhitaryan ready to flourish, United are primed to shake up the top four this season after missing out on it by a fair distance last term and once again do battle with Europe's elite in the Uefa Champions League instead of its lesser lights."

Mkhitaryan became something of a specialist in Europe throughout his debut season with United, and his clincher in the final against Ajax was his sixth goal in the tournament.

The Armenia international was recently nominated for the UEFA Europa League Player of the Season award.