Talismanic Ibrahimovic back to boost Jose’s United

– Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s return from suspension will lift Manchester United as they attempt to improve their Premier League home form against Everton tonight.

The striker, United’s leading scorer, has missed three domestic matches through suspension – in which time Jose Mourinho’s team have been knocked out of the FA Cup and lost ground in the race for a top-four finish.

Ibrahimovic (right) was certainly missed on Saturday as United drew at home in the league for the eighth time this season, as they were held 0-0 by West Bromwich Albion.

In United’s defence, they were without not only Ibrahimovic, but also Ander Herrera, who was suspended too, plus injury victims Paul Pogba, Juan Mata, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones, yet it was still a hugely disappointing display.

This is a busy period for United, who are scheduled to play nine matches during April.

If there is no sign of improvement in form against Everton or at Sunderland this coming Sunday, Mourinho has indicated that he will put his focus on winning the Europa League.

French midfielder Pogba should return after being left out of the squad against West Brom as a precaution because of the hamstring injury.

Herrera is also available after his ban, but Mata, Smalling and Jones will be longer-term absentees; the Spanish winger is out for the season following groin surgery last week.

Everton are seeking improvement themselves, having performed poorly in losing 3-1 at Liverpool in Saturday’s Merseyside derby.

However, Everton manager Ronald Koeman said in public after the game he was proud of his team’s performance.

Koeman is short of defensive options, with Seamus Coleman recovering from a broken leg and Ramiro Funes Mori to miss the final weeks of the season after suffering a knee injury while playing for Argentina. –