Manchester United Handed Zlatan Ibrahimovic Boost Ahead Of Return

Manchester United face Liverpool on Saturday full of confidence as they find themselves level on points with top of the table Manchester City. But they have been handed a further boost because of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

After a couple of weeks of international football that gave us the boredom of England and the excitement of Egypt, Panama and Argentina it's time to go back to domestic football and the Premier League serves up Liverpool vs Manchester United as a wonderful starter.

The Reds have come out of the international break with Sadio Mane whilst the Red Devils lost Marouane Fellaini from their ranks to add to the already missing Paul Pogba, although Romelu Lukaku seemingly came back to fitness.

_{Fellaini has been extremely important to United recently. Image: PA}

That last point is important for Jose Mourinho's side as the Belgian has hit the ground running since his move from Everton in the summer and already become indispensable in the team.

That is partially down to Zlatan Ibrahimovic still being injured but according to the Times that problem could be over sooner rather than later. The newspaper reports that the Swede is now expected to start full training next month and available to play midway through December.

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_{Ibrahimovic scored 28 goals last season before his injury. Image: PA}

'Ibra' ruptured his anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments in United's Europa League quarter final against Anderlecht last March and wasn't expected to be back until the new year, possibly as late as February.

However his rapid recovery times means he could soon swap rehab in America, with occasional visits to Manchester, with full time training at United's training ground early in November.

After that it's thought that the 36 year old will be back before United's Christmas run which will be a massive boost for Jose Mourinho as he tries to negotiate his squad through the busy schedule.

via GIPHY

United play Arsenal, Manchester City, and Bournemouth early in December, as well as a Champions League game against CSKA Moscow, before West Brom, Leicester, Burnley and Southampton in the busy Christmas period and Everton on New Year's Day.

With Lukaku and Ibrahimovic available they could just become even more difficult to play against!

Topics: Manchester United, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Premier League

Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a writer for SPORTbible. He covers all sport from football, formula one, cricket, rugby, tennis, athletics, mma and wrestling. He obviously hates YOUR football team and has no interest in synchronised swimming.

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