IBRAHIMOVIC OFFERED FITNESS WARNING AMID TALK OF EARLY MAN UTD COMEBACK

The Swedish striker is edging his way back from
a serious knee injury, with the surgeon who
operated on him urging him not to rush his
recovery
Zlatan Ibrahimovic should only return to action at
Manchester United when “fully fit”, says the surgeon who
operated on his knee, Dr Freddie Fu.
The Swedish striker saw his 2016-17 campaign brought to
a premature conclusion when he suffered ligament
damage during a Europa League meeting with Anderlecht.
Man Utd 11/1 to win Champions League
Ibrahimovic has, however, committed to a new short-term
contract with United since stepping up his recovery, with
his comeback eagerly-anticipated at Old Trafford.
Jose Mourinho initially suggested that the veteran
frontman would not be seen until January, but he is in the
Red Devils’ group stage squad for the Champions League
and an early return has been mooted.
Fu, though, has warned Ibrahimovic and United against
rushing the process, telling the South China Morning Post:
“I have no worry about his injury as it always takes time to
fully recover.
“In fact the EPL has just started and I am sure Manchester
United would not need the player urgently for any crucial
game either in the league or European competitions.
“He is very strong but soccer is still a combative sport. As
a doctor, of course I want to see him return as slow as
possible, only when he is fully fit for the game.

There have
been many cases of a player returning prematurely with
bad consequences.”
Ibrahimovic is not expected to suffer any problems once
back to full fitness, with Fu having reiterated that the
former Milan, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain striker is
among the finest physical specimens he has operated on.
He added: "I have treated almost 60 professional players
and Ibrahimovic is certainly one of the best and strongest
players I have ever operated on.
"He has a very strong attitude. Even before the operation,
he firmly believed he would come back in his soccer
career and would not retire just because of the injury.
“And when we examined his knee, other than the ligament
injuries he sustained, the joint, the muscles and other
parts of his knee are all in top-notch condition, just like
those of a 15-year-old boy and not a soccer player who
has been [subjecting his knee to the rigours of] fierce
physical competition for so many years.
“His operation went very smoothly.”
Ibrahimovic netted 28 times in 46 appearances for United
last season, with that haul including match-winning efforts
in the Community Shield and EFL Cup final.