Mkhitaryan relishing newfound freedom

Cape Town - Manchester United attacking midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan has expressed his delight after helping the team to a 3-0 win over Leicester City on Sunday.

The Armenian netted the Red Devils' first goal at King Power Stadium before assisting in the visitors' third as Juan Mata capped off the victory.

"I felt free, because we really played well," Mkhitaryan told the press after the game. "I had help from everywhere. From the flanks, from behind, from up front with Ibra (Zlatan Ibrahimovic). I felt good, we played football, we knew what we had to do. So I felt very good."

Mkhitaryan had initially struggled at Old Trafford after making the move from Dortmund at the start of the season, but manager Jose Mourinho has explained that it was necessary to 'protect' the player before giving him game time.

"Sometimes the best way to protect the players is to not play them. Mkhi is one of those players. We protect him," the United boss said at a news conference.

"Now you see the magic he does on the pitch, but I also see other things I want to see, and Mkhi is playing really well."