Ibrahimovic to return in 2017, says Manchester United boss

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has revealed he expects Zlatan Ibrahimovic to return to first-team action before the end of 2017.

Ibrahimovic has not featured since suffering a serious cruciate knee ligament injury against Anderlecht in the Europa League in April.

There were fears the former Sweden international would be forced to call time on his illustrious career but Ibrahimovic’s knee has responded to rehabilitation better than anyone expected.

Ibrahimovic’s recovery convinced Jose Mourinho to hand the 35-year-old a new one-year deal at the end of August and now the United manager is confident the mercurial Swede will make his return to first-team action this year.

“Zlatan is here, he’s working here, under our control,” ESPN quote Mourinho as saying at his pre-match press conference on Friday.

“He’s working so, so, so, so hard but he’s not going to be back in the next week or couple of weeks, let him take his time and be back when everyone feels it is the right moment.

“Do I think he will be back in 2017? Yes I do. But it just a feeling.”

United have actually not missed Ibrahimovic so far this season after replacing him with Romelu Lukaku over the summer. In fact, Mourinho’s side are six points better off at this stage of last season and have scored eight more goals.