Jose Mourinho has named his side for the Premier League clash at Old Trafford.
Amid his imminent switch to Arsenal, Mkhitaryan has arrived at the stadium ahead of the clash but won’t feature.
The playmaker has been out of favour for some time under Mourinho.
And he is poised to leave as part of United’s deal for Alexis Sanchez.
A transfer has not been confirmed yet, but much of the talk heading into the match surrounds the Chilean.
Mourinho, meanwhile, has named a strong side for the visit of the Potters, who announced Paul Lambert as their new manager earlier today.
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Here is how the Reds line up for #MUNSTK... ķ ½ķ““ pic.twitter.com/otGid7EQkS
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 15, 2018
Eddie Niedzwiecki makes 7ā£ changes to tonight's team that faces @ManUtd at Old Trafford.
— Stoke City FC (@stokecity) January 15, 2018
ķ ½ķ“ Bauer, Martins Indi, Tymon, Fletcher, Shaqiri, Choupo-Moting and Crouch all make the starting XI.
City line-up in a 4-2-3-1 formation.#SCFC ķ ½ķ““āŖļø pic.twitter.com/2CIECRjITg
“Romelu Lukaku leads the line”
Romelu Lukaku leads the line with in form Jesse Lingard playing in the No.10 role.
Marcus Rashford starts on the bench with Anthony Martial on the left of Mourinho's attack.
Arsenal tried to prise the Frenchman away but are set to get Mkhitaryan instead.
Stoke make seven changes to their team, with Peter Crouch and Xherdan Shaqiri both starting.
Man Utd XI: De Gea, Valencia, Jones, Smalling, Shaw, Matic, Pogba, Mata, Lingard, Martial, Lukaku
Subs: Pereira, Lindelof, Rojo, Fellaini, Herrera, McTominay, Rashford
Stoke XI: Butland, Bauer, Zouma, Martins Indi, Tymon, Fletcher, Allen, Shaqiri, Ireland, Choupo Moting, Crouch
Subs: Grant, Wimmer, Afellay, Adam, Diouf, Ramadan, Edwards
How Manchester Unitedās starting XI could look with Alexis Sanchez
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On his team selection and Mkhitaryan in particular, Mourinho said: "I would lie if I said it was a pure tactical decision.
"It was just a choice of the players that we know, in this moment, they have 100 per cent their heads in Manchester United.
"No doubts about the future. I don't think it's easy for a player to play when there are doubts about his future.
"It's added pressure that a player doesn't need, so I think it's the best for him and for us, while the doubt is in the air, to protect him."