Micki Equals Premier League Assist Record

In-form Manchester United forward Henrikh Mkhitaryan has equalled a 23-year-old record for assists at the start of a Premier League season.

The Armenia international has set up five goals in his first three appearances of the campaign, something that was last achieved in the Premier League by Ruel Fox for Newcastle United during the 1994/95 season.

Mkhitaryan created Marcus Rashford’s opening goal on Saturday against a stubborn Leicester City side, who had managed to keep United out for 70 minutes before eventually losing 2-0 at Old Trafford.

Speaking to MUTV after United's welcomed victory over the recent champions, Mkhitaryan said: “Another assist, I am very glad. I am very excited. I want to thank my team-mates for that. I will keep doing the same and hope to have more assists and goals for the next games."

With himself and United in such good form, Mkhitaryan agreed the international break has come at the wrong time: “We can do nothing about it, it’s the time we have to play for the national team," he said.

"In one case, it’s good because we going to relax, but in our brains we’re going to be a little bit out of the Premier League. I hope that everyone will come back without injury and we’ll get ready to go again.”

United’s next match is away at Stoke City on Saturday 9 September (17:30 BST kick-off).

MKHITARYAN'S 2017/18 ASSIST LIST

13 Aug: Lukaku v West Ham on 53 minutes
Henrikh supplied an inch-perfect cross from a set-piece on the left wing, which led to Romelu scoring his second goal of the game with a towering close-range header past helpless goalkeeper Joe Hart.

13 Aug: Martial v West Ham on 87 minutes
Sometimes the simplest passes are the most effective and that was certainly the case here, as Micki side-footed a short, first-time ball through the defensive line for Anthony to convert a cool finish into the net.

19 Aug: Lukaku v Swansea City on 80 minutes
Our flourishing former Borussia Dortmund star showed a cool head in Wales, taking the ball from Martial to slide a low pass to Lukaku in space. The big man did the rest, shooting in the bottom corner.

19 Aug: Pogba v Swansea City on 85 minutes
This is perhaps his best assist of the season so far, after sprinting up the right wing from the halfway line and executing a perfect pass into the box for Paul to chip a neat finish over the goalkeeper. Magic!

26 Aug: Rashford v Leicester City on 70 minutes
With the score at 0-0, the game needed a moment of inspiration and Mkhitaryan's corner from the right wing fell at the feet of Marcus for the substitute to score with an instinctive finish.