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Manchester United optimistic Zlatan Ibrahimovic could return in time for busy festive period
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is hoping to be available again in time for Manchester United’s rush of Christmas fixtures.
Jose Mourinho, the United manager, said over the weekend that he does not expect the Swedish striker to back in action until January after the club confirmed last week that he had signed a new one-year contract.
But Ibrahimovic has impressed the medics and physiotherapists with the speed of his recovery so far from the cruciate ligament injury he sustained to his right knee in April, and while he is unprepared to take any unnecessary risks with his fitness, there is some optimism that he could return sooner than originally expected.
Mourinho is banking on Ibrahimovic being ready for the second half of the season but the prospect of the 35-year-old being in contention for United’s festive programme – when they face Leicester, Burnley, Southampton and Everton over a 10-day period – would be a considerable boon for the manager. A return around that time would equate to an eight month lay-off.
An early return would come as little surprise given the reaction of the surgeons to the strength of Ibrahimovic’s knee, his overall fitness at the time of the operation and the player’s subsequent efforts to get back to full fitness.
Dr Freddie Fu, the Pittsburgh based surgeon who carried out the operation, confirmed that he would like to bring Ibrahimovic back for further study once the player has retired after expressing surprise that a footballer with more than 700 top flight games to his name over such a long period could have knees in such “superb” condition.
The main tendons in Ibrahimovic’s right knee, for example, are believed to have measured around three times the normal size.
Juan Mata said United’s players would welcome Ibrahimovic back. “It’s great, obviously everyone knows Zlatan, knows what he can give us, his personality on and off the pitch, his goals, and he can be a boost for us after this first part of the season, hopefully he can join soon, recover quick and give us a lot of goals in the second part of the league,” the midfielder said.
“He is very confident about himself, he can give us this confidence he has and on the pitch he’s a big presence for the rivals and when he’s in the box he scores with head, both feet and he’s a great addition. The first thing is that he can recover 100 per cent and quick and the second thing is I think he can be very important for us in our objective of fighting for the title.”