Henrikh Mkhitaryan heads into tonight's Europa League Round of 16 second leg against FC Rostov with praise from Manchester United team-mate Chris Smalling ringing in his ears.
The Armenian has been instrumental in the Reds' European progress, scoring against Zorya Luhansk, Saint-Etienne and in the first game at Rostov, and is expected to be a key figure as Jose Mourinho's men look to reach the quarter-finals of a competition the club has never won.
After being withdrawn in the wake of Ander Herrera's dismissal at Chelsea on Monday, a tactical sacrifice, the clever schemer will hopefully be raring to go against the Russians at Old Trafford.