Man Utd concern over injury impact on influential figure, Mourinho could eye replacement

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Man Utd showed a lot of faith in sticking by Zlatan Ibrahimovic during his recovery from a serious knee injury, but reports claim that faith could be tested again.

The 36-year-old spent seven months on the sidelines after suffering a knee injury in a Europa League tie last season, but worked tirelessly to prove his doubters wrong who suggested it could end his career.

Following plenty of hard work on the training ground and in the gym, he made his comeback last month, but has struggled to have a positive impact.

While his experience and winning mentality will be crucial to the United squad this season, it’s important for them that he can offer serious competition to Romelu Lukaku to keep the Belgian forward on his toes to stay in the side.

However, as reported by The Sun, there are concerns at Old Trafford over Ibrahimovic’s ability to get back to his best and be an influential figure like he was in his first season with the club, which could in turn lead them to signing a striker in January to bolster Mourinho’s options.

The former Swedish international scored 28 goals and provided 10 assists in 46 appearances last season to show that he had plenty left in the tank.

Meanwhile, Lukaku has 14 goals in 25 games so far this year, but has faced criticism in a recent goal drought as well as over his inability to find the back of the net in the big games against direct rivals.

In turn, United need a top-class option to come in if he’s misfiring, and unless Ibrahimovic can prove his fitness and form in the coming weeks, it sounds as though the Red Devils may have to look elsewhere as Mourinho continues to protect the stalwart from a setback by easing him back into action.

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