Zlatan Ibrahimovic should not be rushed back by Manchester United according to the striker's doctor

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Zlatan Ibrahimovic's doctor has warned Manchester United not to rush back their star striker until he is fully fit.

The Swede, who missed the start of the new season following an operation on his knee, is due back for training at the end of October.

But his surgeon Dr Freddie Fu has urged Jose Mourinho to be patient with the 35-year-old. 

Zlatan Ibrahimovic's surgeon has warned Jose Mourinho not to rush back their star striker

The Manchester United forward suffered knee ligament damage against Hull last April 

Dr Fu, who helped repair Zlatan's knee ligaments, told the South China Morning Post: 'I have no worry about his injury as it always takes time to fully recover.

'I am sure Manchester United would not need the player urgently for any crucial game either in the league or European competitions.

'He is very strong but I want to see him return as slow as possible, only when he is fully fit for the game.'

The striker scored 28 goals for Manchester United last season and was an integral part of the team that brought Champions League football back to Old Trafford.

But, with the signing of Romelu Lukaku, Mourinho has seemingly found a fitting replacement for now.   

Dr Fu believes the striker could suffer more damage if Jose Mourinho plays him too soon

Fu added: 'There have been many cases of a player returning prematurely with bad consequences.

'When we examined his knee, other than the ligament injuries he sustained, the other parts of his knee are all in top-notch condition, just like those of a 15-year-old boy.'

It looks like it will be a busy period for Lukaku in the absence of Ibrahimovic with Mourinho seemingly reluctant to rotate strikers until the Swede is fit.

'Look, without Zlatan we cannot rotate the strikers, especially because Marcus Rashford is playing in other positions,' said Mourinho.

'So until the moment we have Zlatan, we cannot think about giving rest to our No 9 the same way we give in other positions. We cannot do that.' 

Mourinho has said he cannot afford to rest Romelu Lukaku until Ibrahimovic is fit again