JOSE MOURINHO HAS confirmed Zlatan Ibrahimovic will return to action before the end of the year.
Ibrahimovic tore his anterior cruciate ligament in April to place his career and United future in doubt.
But the 36-year-old forward has recovered swiftly from the serious injury and is closing in on a first-team comeback.
Mourinho suggested last month the former Sweden international could be back this year and the Portuguese boss is now certain of that timescale.
“He is a lion, he is a fighter,” Mourinho told Sky Sports, amid reports that Ibrahimovic and fellow long-term absentee Paul Pogba could be in contention to return as early as Saturday’s match at home to Newcastle United.
I think that is a good description of him, he has the anger all the time and that’s the reason why he’s almost coming back.
“As we expect, he’s reduced the timing of his recovering and, as we were saying a few weeks ago, he will be back in 2017, which is a magnificent recovery.”
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