Manchester United hopeful Zlatan Ibrahimovic will return at Christmas with Jose Mourinho targeting a January comeback
The Swedish superstar is still recovering from a serious knee injury but could make it back in time for the busy festive period
ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC is hopeful of making his Manchester United return by Christmas, according to reports.
Jose Mourinho said he expected the Swedish superstar to return no earlier than January from his knee injury sustained in April.
But the Telegraph are now reporting that Ibrahimovic, 35, is targeting a comeback during the busy festive period.
The former Barcelona striker will not take any risks concerning his fitness but the report suggests doctors have been impressed with his speedy recovery.
And that could see Zlatan back in a United shirt for the ten days when United face Leicester, Burnley, Southampton and Everton.
Zlatan's Pittsburgh-based surgeon Dr Freddie Fu carried out the surgery on the attacker's knee confirmed he was shocked by the "superb" condition of his knee.
And when Ibrahimovic retires Fu wants him to go back for tests and research.
United midfielder Juan Mata revealed the team's excitement after Ibrahimovic was confirmed to be returning to Old Trafford.
Latest Manchester United transfer news
“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.
“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.”
