Jose Mourinho believes summer signing Henrikh Mkhitaryan is adapting to life in the Premier League after a convincing win over West Ham sent the Red Devils into the last four of the EFL Cup.

Mkhitaryan has not been prominent for his new club since arriving from Borussia Dortmund in July, with the United manager keeping him largely on the sidelines since a injury against Manchester City in September.

But Mourinho thinks he has turned a corner and praised his showing against a high-quality outfit.

“I’m so happy because it was against a Premier League team with Premier League qualities and characteristics,” he said.

“That really showed his evolution because against Feyenoord we could think that it was a different profile, but this was against a proper and typical Premier League team.”

The Reds’ boss praised the Armenian’s performances and believes he is displaying the qualities that got him the move to Old Trafford in the first place.

He said: “Micki performed this way and we are really happy, because we know the reason why we bought him; we were waiting for his adaptation and it looks like it’s coming.”

Some managers would argue that fighting on three fronts cripples their squad, but Southampton boss Claude Puel insists he is relishing the Saints’ busy winter schedule ahead.

Following Wednesday’s EFL Cup quarter-final triumph over Arsenal, Southampton are still fighting hard in both that competition and the Europa League, as well as the Premier League where they sit in mid-table.

And while most of Europe is preparing to take a break over the winter period, Puel is adamant he is pleased that his side will be tackling the brutal English holiday schedule.

Saints go in search of their third victory in a week at Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon, and Puel hopes their level can stay the same to give the club the maximum chance to win some silverware this term.

(Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images)

“For me it’s a good thing. I prefer to play every three days,” he said.

“It is important [to have] a high level with the ability to continue playing this game with the same performance, the same quality. I like this and the players like this also.

“They prefer playing different games than making training sessions every time. Winter is an important moment, I hope we can continue this work for the second part of the season.

“It will be the result of the qualifying in the semi-final of the cup, the Premier League, and our objective in the Europa League.

“It is very important for the squad to continue all this many games for the second part of the season.

“It will be the result of good performances before January.”

Burnley centre-back Ben Mee believes his side have got their humbling defeat to West Brom out of their system after putting the frighteners on Manchester City last weekend.

The Clarets are punching above their weight in mid-table but looked like relegation candidates after being blown off the park by West Brom a fortnight ago.

However they got back on track against City as they forced their north west neighbours to come from behind to win 2-1 – and also had a strong early penalty shout turned down.

(Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

And though Mee admits his side are far from perfect, he is confident there will be no repeat of their Baggies blunder over Christmas.

“It was more like us (against City),” said the defender.  “We simplified things, we didn’t mess around too much and we wanted to make it uncomfortable for them and be something different that they’re not quite used to.

“We did that well and created a couple of opportunities, though we were disappointed with the two sloppy goals.

“We need to sort it out and do better, which I’m sure we will. We’ll look at that and we will improve. We’ve got an honest bunch of lads who will work hard to do that.”

Seamus Coleman saved Everton’s bacon in their last game at Goodison Park, his equaliser sparing their blushes in a 1-1 draw against Swansea, but he believes the whole team must start fighting to turn their fortunes around.

A defeat away to Southampton sent Ronald Koeman’s side sliding down the Premier League table and they are a point behind Sunday’s opponents Manchester United in seventh.

(Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

But Ireland’s Coleman has called on his teammates to give their everything against Jose Mourinho’s side, while taking confidence from their strong home record against United.

“We have to look forward, do the right things and when we come off that pitch we have to be able to look in the mirror,” he said.

“There have been some games recently where we haven’t been good enough. We may have played well in spells but we need to do it over the 90 minutes

“It is going to be a tough game against Manchester United, but we have to go out and perform and do so for 90 minutes – not for 45.

“We can take confidence from the home record. The home form has been good.

“I just try to approach things the same way every day. I try to do the right things. Some games, things don’t go right for you but that’s not an excuse for you stop trying to do things correctly.

“You have to keep being professional and, if we can do that, then hopefully our luck will turn.”

Midfielder Jack Wilshere is hoping his good form for loan side Bournemouth will win him a new contract at parent club Arsenal.

The 24-year-old is enjoying a starring role in Eddie Howe’s team, whom he joined on a season-long loan in August.

He was not eligible for the game at the Emirates on Sunday, which saw Arsenal beat the Cherries 3-1, with Alexis Sanchez scoring twice and Theo Walcott also netting for the hosts.

Wilshere’s Arsenal career has been blighted by injury since he made his debut as a 16-year-old against Blackburn Rovers in September 2008.

Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

His current deal runs out in 2018, and the England international said, while his immediate focus is on playing well for Bournemouth, he is thinking of his long-term Gunners prospects.

“At the moment, my head is in Bournemouth,” he said. “I know as much as everyone else knows.

“I read what the boss at Arsenal said and at the moment I’m focused on performing for Bournemouth and putting myself in a position where Arsenal want to offer me a new contract and I’m in a strong position at the end of the season.

“At the moment, I’m taking each game as it comes, working hard and I’m looking forward to the next six or seven months here at Bournemouth.

“We’ll see what happens after that.”

Crystal Palace assistant manager Keith Millen has praised the players’ attitude in training after their dramatic 5-4 loss to Swansea City.

Palace conceded two goals in added time after overturning a 3-1 deficit as they slumped to their sixth straight Premier League defeat last weekend.

They also lost striker Connor Wickham to a serious knee injury, which is likely to rule him out for the rest of the season.

Palace are hoping to break their losing run against Southampton at Selhurst Park on Saturday, but Millen feels the Eagles players have not let the poor run of form affect the atmosphere in training.

Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

“I’ve got to be honest and say the lads have trained really, really well this week,” he said.

“That is pleasing and hopefully that helps for this weekend and going forward.

“I have been in training grounds when you just know their heads have gone or they have lost that real belief.

“They certainly haven’t done that here.”

Millen added that, at times, it had been “hard to watch” the defending from the sidelines, as a former centre-back himself.

“It has been hard to watch our defence as an ex-defender,” he said. “You pride yourself on the organisation and the preparation, so it hurts all of us when we’re conceding goals.”

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte admits he was pleased his side were put under the cosh by Tottenham last weekend, ahead of one of their toughest tests of the season so far.

The table-topping Blues travel to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday lunchtime to face Premier League title rivals Manchester City, having won their last seven straight matches in the league.

Conte’s side were bullied by London rivals Spurs in their last outing however, conceding their first goal in almost ten hours of football in the first half before coming back to win 2-1.

That was the first time Chelsea had really been put under serious pressure since switching to a 3-4-3 formation, and the Italian gaffer hopes that reminder will stand his side in good stead for the trip to Manchester.

Victor Moses netted Chelsea’s winner against Spurs (Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)

“The first half against Tottenham was very difficult but usually when that happens you can learn a lot,” he said.

“This week we studied our first half a lot and I showed the way to improve in the future.

“It’s important to remember we played against a top team with a great squad and manager. They fought for the title until the end last season, while we finished tenth

“Now they are seven points behind us which is a great achievement for us. Tottenham can fight until the end to win the title, and if we were the team of the start of the season I’m sure we would have lost that type of game.

“We conceded a goal in the last game and when you arrive after six wins in a row without conceding there is a bit of disappointment, but Eriksen scored a fantastic goal.

“We didn’t concede many chances for them to score again. Man City is an important test for our solidity.”

Matty Phillips may be terrorising defences down the wing, but the West Brom wide man insists he is yet to find his best form this season.

The 25-year-old has scored two goals and contributed three assists in his last three games, with the Baggies winning two of those to move into the top half of the Premier League table.

Phillips joined West Brom in the summer after a three-year spell at Queens Park Rangers, but he struggled during his time at Loftus Road, despite making 94 appearances, and failed to deliver his true potential.

But now the winger has is full of confidence under Baggies boss Tony Pulis, and says he won’t take his good form for granted.

Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images

“Of course it’s good on a personal level, but as a team we’ve really come together this month and shown what we can do,” he said.

“Confidence is a massive part of my game.

“When you come to a new club you want to impress from the very beginning. I probably put a bit too much of that pressure on myself and it may have been hindering me a little.

“I’ve hit some good form but I’m still going to be working hard. Hopefully there’s more to come.”

Steven Pienaar is enjoying a second berth to his career with his time at Sunderland, and the midfielder insists not even he expected the amount of playing time he is getting under David Moyes.

The 34-year-old has already featured 11 times in all competitions heading into the weekend’s clash with champions Leicester City, a tally better than the entirety of last season with Everton.

It’s a trend which has held similar for Pienaar’s former Toffee teammate Victor Anichebe, himself getting a second wind with three goals to his name so far having reunited with Moyes.

And with Sunderland enjoying a change in fortunes that has seen them win their first two Premier League games of the campaign, Pienaar is hopeful the form can lead to him getting a prolonged run at the Stadium of Light.

(Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“I’ve played more games than I have in the past two years and that’s a really good sign for me, hopefully I can keep doing that every week,” he said.

“But you have to keep working hard, we have a lot of good players so you can’t stop fighting for your place, but I’m happy with where my game is at the present moment.

“I’m playing quite consistently and hopefully that can continue. It’s the same for Victor – he hasn’t played as much as he would have wanted, so I’m delighted he’s had the chance to get some time on the pitch.”

Watford manager Walter Mazzarri believes the way Nordin Amrabat and Sebastian Prodl have stepped up to the mark is a huge testament to the character of the pair.

The Italian has given a new lease of life to both Amrabat and Prodl, their performances key in the Hornets’ current eighth-placed position in the Premier League having been used infrequently at Vicarage Road by former manager Quique Sanchez Flores.

Prodl has already made 13 appearances for the Hornets in all competitions this season, becoming the mainstay of a settled defensive unit that kept clean sheets in three successive games in October.

It’s a journey baring many similarities to that of Amrabat, with the Moroccan getting a new lease of life having signed from Malaga back in January – a season that saw the midfielder fail to find the back of the net.

Sebastian Prodl has found his feet under Mazzarri (Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)

“When I arrived, Amrabat was one of those who was not considered previously,” said Mazzarri.

“This can only prove the work that we have done up until today, which has helped him improve not only mentally but also as a player.

“I can make another example – it’s the same with Prödl.

“He has improved massively as a player this season. This gives us a lot of satisfaction, because it proves that my work, together with my staff, has been very positive.”