Jose Mourinho on Paul Pogba, Zlatan Ibrahimovic Returns in Pre-Newcastle Presser

Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba are set to be in Manchester United's squad to face Newcastle United on Saturday, with manager Jose Mourinho confirming the major boost for his side in Friday's press conference.

Speaking to Helen Evans of club channel MUTV on Friday, Mourinho revealed the three stars are "ready to play" before later telling the assembled media that Ibrahimovic, Pogba and Marcos Rojo will be included in his squad:

Neither Ibrahimovic nor Rojo has played since suffering a serious knee injury in a UEFA Europa League game against Anderlecht back in April, while a hamstring strain has kept Pogba sidelined since September.

The Red Devils play host to Rafa Benitez's Newcastle side in Saturday's late kick-off, and Mourinho touched upon the extra helping of quality in United's play when Pogba is present:

The recovery times of Ibrahimovic and Rojo are particularly impressive considering both players were slated for returns in early 2018, and Mourinho hailed the work of his Swedish striker:

Ibrahimovic technically left the club after his contract expired at the end of last season, and Romelu Lukaku was brought in as his replacement before the former re-signed on a new deal until the end of the 2017-18 campaign back in August.

Alex Porter of the Manchester Evening News provided further quotes from the United chief, who elaborated on how he has coped without several figures who were nearly always available during the 2016-17 season:

"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 for us and of course welcome back, of course incredible personality to fight such an important injury, we were all saying in 2017 he will be back but one thing is 31 Dec 2017 and another thing is mid-November.

"He was as an injured player the same super pro he is when he's fit. So fantastic work, same as Marcos, is an important injury too, a big surgery, he played with the young boys on Wednesday and is fine, is confident, is also ready."

There's a personal battle to watch out for in the dugout on Saturday too, as Mourinho encounters former Liverpool chief Benitez, against whom he enjoyed one of the first of his infamous managerial spats.

But any bad blood appears to have been pushed to one side, as Mourinho praised his Newcastle counterpart for being part of an exclusive club alongside him, per Bill Rice of BBC Radio Manchester:

Marca's Chris Winterburn also quoted Mourinho as saying he has "immense respect" for Benitez. Chris Wheeler of the Daily Mail posted further comments to suggest their rivalry could be a thing of the past:

United could set a new record of successive clean sheets at home on Saturday, having avoided conceding in their previous five Premier League games at Old Trafford.

It's unsurprising that such frivolities aren't of concern to Mourinho, however, who insisted his focus lies with the result first and foremost:

Saturday's fixture could provide the first platform for Ibrahimovic to play alongside Lukaku, and Mourinho assured reporters the duo would mesh because "good players can play together—it's easy."

While United supporters will undoubtedly hope that's the case, just seeing the likes of Ibrahimovic and Pogba back on the pitch may be enough to satiate their appetites for the time being.