Zlatan back to boost United

– Zlatan Ibrahimovic is in contention to make his first Manchester United start in seven months today after completing his comeback from a career-threatening knee injury.

The striker enjoyed an impressive first season at Old Trafford following his free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain in July 2016, only for it to be cut short by cruciate knee ligament damage sustained in a Europa League quarterfinal victory over Anderlecht in April.

Both Ibrahimovic and defender Marcos Rojo, who suffered a similar injury in the same match, have now fully recovered from their injuries and could play a key role as United host Brighton in the Premier League this weekend.

Ibrahimovic, 36, has appeared as a substitute in each of United’s past two matches, coming on as Newcastle were beaten 4-1 at Old Trafford last Saturday, and again on Wednesday in a 1-0 Champions League defeat by Basel in Switzerland.

Rojo made his comeback at centreback against Basel and is likely to be asked to play there again as Phil Jones has a thigh injury and fellow defender Eric Bailly is battling to recover from a knock.

Despite those concerns, Mourinho is close to having a fullstrength squad for the first time in months, with Paul Pogba coming back to fitness following a serious hamstring problem. –

Manchester