Jose Welcomes Stars Back Into The Fold

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho admits his side has missed the influence of big stars Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, as would any team in world football.

The boss is also preparing to welcome Marcos Rojo back into the fold after the Argentinian's Reserves outing in midweek. The news has provided a real boost ahead of Saturday's visit of Newcastle United as the Reds look to get back to winning ways following the international break.

Pogba was instrumental in a fine start to the season, earning the club's Player of the Month award in August, before being injured against Basel in the Champions League opener. Ibrahimovic and Rojo both sustained their knee-ligament damage in last term's Europa League encounter with Anderlecht, but are set to join Pogba in the squad for the weekend fixture.

"[With] Paul, now I can speak because he's back," said Mourinho. "I didn't like to speak while he was injured, but you can clearly see Manchester United this season before Paul's injury and after Paul's injury. There are qualities in our football, there are qualities that influence our approach in matches with Pogba and without Pogba - it's as simple as that. 

"Zlatan, last season, we played with him for almost every minute until he was injured. This season, we learn how to play without him. We played in a different way but he's a very important player for us and, of course, welcome back. 

"Of course, he's 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, so fantastic work. 

"The same as Marcos [Rojo]. He was a very important injury too, a big surgery; he played already with the young boys last Wednesday and he's fine. He's confident, he's also ready. And Paul is obviously not the same dimension; it was not surgical situation, but was also a good, when I say good, it was not a bad injury and all three are back."