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Manchester United stars visit children at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital
Juan Mata, Antonio Valencia and Jesse Lingard among those posing for pictures
Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic bring Christmas presents for the youngsters
Manchester United news: All the latest from Old Trafford

Published: 12:02 EDT, 18 December 2017 | Updated: 14:12 EDT, 18 December 2017

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Manchester United may be the second-best team in the city these days, but they were everyone's favourite club at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital on Monday after turning up loaded with Christmas presents.

Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic were among a host of senior Manchester United stars who gave up their time to visit young children in hospital and came equipped with signed shirts, chocolate and cuddly toys to give away.

The children looked delighted as they were handed a plethora of gifts and posed for pictures alongside their footballing heroes, who currently sit second in the Premier League table.

Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic pose with an avid Manchester United fan and his presents

Ibrahimovic gave his Manchester United hat to the young boy to brighten up his day further

Pogba and Ibrahimovic of Manchester United deliver Christmas presents to Kayden, 15

Rashford and Lingard present two brand new PS4 consoles to workers at the hospital

Antonio Valencia and Sergio Romero smiled as they handed a signed Manchester United home shirt to a youngster while Pogba and Ibrahimovic gave a thumbs-up with one evidently avid Manchester United fan.

And he won't have to wait long to see his favourite stars back in action as they take on Bristol City in the Carabao Cup quarter-final on Wednesday evening, where they will hope to continue the defence of their title.

Earlier on Monday, the players joined manager Jose Mourinho at their Carrington headquarters to undergo training.

Marcos Rojo and rising star Scott McTominay pose with a youngster and his signed shirt

Axel Tuanzebe and Luke Shaw pose for a photo as Brandon, 6, unwraps his present

Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard dress for the occasion with branded Santa Claus hats

Antonio Valencia and Sergio Romero gift a signed shirt to a youngster and pose for a photo

The Portuguese is likely to rotate his squad with Ibrahimovic in line to start his first game of the campaign.

A cup tie may be just what United need to take their minds off a frustrating Premier League season, where they find themselves a full 11 points behind an all-conquering Manchester City team.

Mourinho's side have picked up a highly respectable 41 points from their opening 18 games in the division, but have been unable to match the 16-game winning streak that Pep Guardiola has managed just down the road.