Zlatan Ibrahimovic could be back for Manchester United this year, says Jose Mourinho
Swedish striker is ahead of schedule in recovery from career-threatening knee ligament injury
Jose Mourinho said on Friday that he expects Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic to be ready to return to action from his career-threatening knee ligament injury before the end of the year.
The Manchester United manager has stubbornly refused to put a timeline on the absences of long-term injury victims Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba, who suffered a hamstring tear in mid-September.
He has said he does not even know when the pair will be back although while Pogba remains in Florida for rehabilitation, veteran Ibrahimovic is now back with United’s medical staff in Manchester and has posted social media pictures of his recovery.
A post shared by IAmZlatan (@iamzlatanibrahimovic) on Sep 8, 2017 at 10:35am PDT
That has led Mourinho to predict a return for the cult hero striker some time in December after what will be eight months out with knee ligament injury that was sustained in April and required surgery.
“Paul is not here. I don’t know when he comes back, when he’s available, I’ve no idea,” said Mourinho.
“Zlatan is here, he’s working here, under our control, he’s working so, so, so, so hard but he’s not to be back in the next week or couple of weeks. Let him take his time and be back when everyone feels is the right moment.
“Do I think he will be back in 2017? Yes I do. But it is just a feeling.”
Mourinho’s position on injuries has been at the centre of attention this week after he insisted that he does not “cry” over absent players while accusing rival managers of doing precisely that.