Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho confident Zlatan Ibrahimovic will return from knee injury before the end of the year: 'Do I believe he’ll be back in 2017? Yes I do'

Jose Mourinho confirmed Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be back before the end of the year.

The Swede has been back at Carrington for a number of weeks and is taking part in light ball work.

Ibrahimovic has set his sights on a return in early December, with the match against CSKA Moscow mentioned, and Mourinho believes he will return before January.

Jose Mourinho expects Zlatan Ibrahimovic to be back in action before the end of the year

Jose Mourinho expects Zlatan Ibrahimovic to be back in action before the end of the year

Ibrahimovic is still recovering from the series knee injury he suffered against Anderlecht

Ibrahimovic is still recovering from the series knee injury he suffered against Anderlecht

Ibrahimovic has been putting the hours in at the gym in order to return as soon as possible

Ibrahimovic has been putting the hours in at the gym in order to return as soon as possible

Mourinho discussed United's injury situation at his pre-match press conference on Friday

Mourinho discussed United's injury situation at his pre-match press conference on Friday

‘Zlatan will be back,’ he said. ‘Zlatan is working here and under control, working as I would expect - so, so hard.


‘He’s not back next week or a couple of weeks. Let him take his time. Do I believe he’ll be back in 2017? Yes I do.

‘I don’t want to speak about signings or the market. I wanted four players and clearly everybody knows the position. Maybe you know the player. It didn’t happen.’

Mourinho also addressed United’s injury situation after comments made by Chelsea boss Antonio Conte this week.

Ibrahimovic is focused on returning to United's starting line-up before the new year

Ibrahimovic is focused on returning to United's starting line-up before the new year

As well as Ibrahimovic, Mourinho is also dealing with a string of injuries within his squad

As well as Ibrahimovic, Mourinho is also dealing with a string of injuries within his squad

Conte suggested Mourinho ought to focus on keeping his own house in order after the United boss bemoaned rival managers ‘crying’ about injuries.

Paul Pogba, Marouane Fellaini and Ibrahimovic are all sidelined, while Marcus Rashford is fit for Saturday’s game at Huddersfield after limping out of Wednesday’s slender win at Benfica with a knee problem.

‘Every manager wants to have all the players available. Then it’s how you position yourself, the way you do it. For some it is to remember and remember that the team is not full strength, that player 'a' or 'b' is missing.

‘The way we try to do it is to speak about opportunities for others. It doesn’t mean I don’t miss the players, that I wouldn’t like them available, it’s just the way I try to do it. Nobody is back from injury but we go with what we have.

‘Paul is not here. I don’t know when he comes back.’

But Marcus Rashford is fit and available for United's game with Huddersfield this weekend

But Marcus Rashford is fit and available for United's game with Huddersfield this weekend