Jose Mourinho has backed "leader" Zlatan Ibrahimovic to return to peak fitness and play a big part for Manchester United in the remaining months of the campaign.

The ex-Sweden international has been used just seven times in all competitions by the Red Devils this term, having battled knee and hamstring injuries.

Ibrahimovic has one goal to his name in 2017-18 and is unlikely to return to action until February due to his latest problem, but Mourinho is confident that the ageing striker can still prove "useful".

"Zlatan knows that, at the highest level, he is in the last part of his career," he told reporters. "But his dream, his desire, his fight was always to end his career at Manchester United, being useful for me, being useful for the team.

"That I think he can [achieve]. He just needs to feel really happy with his knee, with his condition, and that I think he can.

"As a leader in the dressing room, as a leader on the pitch - he is a quality player on the pitch, he can do that and I think he deserves that. I am here also to try and help him do that."

Ibrahimovic netted 28 goals in 46 appearances for United in his maiden campaign at the club last time out, seeing him rewarded with a 12-month contract extension.