Zlatan Ibrahimovic says his injury in April was more significant than it was described at the time.

Ibrahimovic returned to action this past weekend for the first time since sustaining the injury.

While the problem was considered grave enough to question whether Ibrahimovic would play again, he stated it was actually more dire than previously known. “If people knew the real injury, they would be in shock that I was even playing. It was more than the knee but I will keep it personal – that’s why I choose not to talk of it,” he said.

“In my recovery I have not rushed anything; I have been out for six and half months. I have been following protocol and my schedule day by day. The only secret has been working hard. Those close to me know what I have been doing. I was working five, six hours a day.

“When it happened I said giving up was not an option. My only focus was on coming back and coming back better. I know it’s my head playing, not my knee; my knee has to follow. With my experience and career I know what I have to do but I feel good. I am very proud of the moment to play again and for everyone around me because I wouldn’t have done it alone. Thanks to the supporters for keeping me motivated, the coach who’s trusted me, the club that believes in me and my family obviously.”

Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic have been cleared to return from their respective injuries.

Both players will be available for Sunday's match against Newcastle United.

Pogba injured his hamstring on September 12th.

Jose Mourinho said: “Now I can speak because Paul is back but you can clearly see Manchester United this season before Paul’s injury and after Paul’s injury. There are qualities in our football that influence our approach in matches, with Pogba and without Pogba, that’s as simple as that.”

Ibrahimovic is returning from a torn ACL.

Mourinho said: “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. We welcome him back.

“He has an incredible personality to fight such an important injury. We were all saying in 2017 he will be back but one thing is 31 December 2017 and another thing is mid-November. He was as an injured player the same super professional he is when he’s fit.

Santi Cazorla hopes to return to action in January after undergoing eight operations over the span of one year due to severe right ankle injury complications.

"I don't have a spot until January but my intention is to return by then," Cazorla told Marca. "I never listened to those that said that I would only be able to play football with my children, I have plenty of football left in me."

A skin graft from his left arm was required to cover the wound, meaning part of a tattoo is now on his foot.

Cazorla was told he would be lucky to even walk normally again and there were fears he would need to have his foot amputated.

"He [Dr. Sanchez] saw that I had a tremendous infection, that had damaged part of the calcaneum bone, eaten the Achilles tendon, there were eight centimetres missing!" Cazorla said. "This hasn't been a simple injury as people may have thought.

"The problem was that it would not heal, the wound would reopen and it would get infected."