Ibrahimovic, Pogba and Rojo back for Manchester United

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba and Marcos Rojo are all available for Manchester United’s Premier League clash with Newcastle United on Saturday, manager Jose Mourinho has confirmed.

Striker Ibrahimovic, who signed a new one-year deal in August, has not played since suffering a knee ligament injury in the Europa League clash with Anderlecht in April.

Rojo, who also suffered a knee injury in that quarter-final match at Old Trafford, has likewise missed the whole of the 2017-18 campaign to date, while Pogba has not featured since injuring his hamstring in the Champions League win over Basel in September.

Mourinho says all three are in contention to face Newcastle this weekend and the club have confirmed they are in the squad for the visit of Rafael Benitez’s side.

“The players that stayed here and [were] recovering from injuries, even the ones that are recovering from big injuries, they are ready to play,” Mourinho told MUTV.

When asked to name the long-term absentees who are returning, he said: “Pogba, Ibrahimovic and Marcos Rojo.”

“Zlatan, he’s a very important player for us and of course, we welcome him back,” says the boss. “He has incredible personality to fight such an injury.” #MUFC pic.twitter.com/XZOuau166n

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 17, 2017

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Mourinho described Ibrahimovic’s recovery as “incredible”, with the 36-year-old initially expected to be out until at least December.

“With Zlatan, last season we played with him every minute almost until he was injured; this season, we learn how to play without him but he’s a very important player for us,” he said.

“Of course, incredible personality to fight such an important injury. We were all saying in 2017 he will be back but one thing is December 31, 2017 and another thing is mid-November.

“He was as an injured player the same super pro he is when he’s fit. So, fantastic work, same as Marcos, an important injury too, a big surgery, he played with the young boys on Wednesday and is fine, confident, also ready.

“Paul is obviously not the same dimension, was not a surgical situation but was also bad and all three are back.”

Mourinho added Pogba’s return is likely to herald a different tactical approach, with United having struggled to match their impressive displays of the opening weeks of the season during the France star’s absence.

“You can see that there was, and now I can speak because he’s back, but you can clearly see Manchester United this season before Paul’s injury and after Paul’s injury,” said Mourinho.

“There are qualities in our football that influence our approach in matches, with Pogba and without Pogba, it’s as simple as that.”