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Jose Mourinho: Paul Pogba, Zlatan Ibrahimovic close to return from injury

Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic are close to returning for Manchester United, according to manager Jose Mourinho.

Ibrahimovic has not played since April after undergoing knee surgery while Pogba has missed the last 12 games with a hamstring problem.

Ibrahimovic has stepped up his recovery by returning to training outside at Carrington, while Pogba is expected to return to the main group after the international break.

Marcos Rojo is also nearing a comeback after suffering damaged knee ligaments in April and could return to the squad for Newcastle's visit to Old Trafford on Nov. 18.

Mourinho told MUTV: "We have the group of players which are the ones that we hope will recover as soon as possible.

"They have to work every day but they are in a good position now.

"Pogba, Ibra, Rojo, Fellaini. They are in good positions so I think we can go into this part of the season, the Christmas period, and after, in a strong position."

United have 13 players away on international duty including Nemanja Matic, who is set to fly to the Far East with Serbia for friendlies against China and South Korea.

Those not involved with their national teams like Chris Smalling, Ander Herrera, Juan Mata, Antonio Valencia and Scott McTominay have been given a week off ahead of a run of fixtures that will see United play nine games in a month following the international break.

Mourinho said: "They all disappear and then we have a couple who aren't selected for their national team, like Smalling and Herrera and they really deserve, after so many matches, to have a week off which I'm going to give them."