Manchester United midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan is baffled by his sudden demise over recent weeks.

Mkhitaryan has been dropped from seven of the last eight matchday squads.

The Manchester Evening News says the midfielder was asked to take on additional defensive duties despite being positioned in the No.10 role behind Romelu Lukaku in October.

Sources claim Mkhitaryan believes he accomplished what manager Jose Mourinho asked from him in a defensive capacity, while other United attackers also feel they under-performed as a result of the tactical changes Mourinho presided over during the club's four-game Premier League run between the October and November internationals.

The 28-year-old is particularly perplexed at his lack of game-time after he regained a measure of form by scoring in both of Armenia's November wins over Belarus and Cyprus.