Jose Mourinho: Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba and Marcos Rojo in contention to face Newcastle

Ibrahimovic has been out of action since he ruptured ACL ligaments in the Europa League quarter-final win over Anderlecht back in April.

Pogba, meanwhile, has been out for nine weeks after picking up a tear to his left hamstring in the 3-0 Champions League win over Basel at Old Trafford on September 12.

And Rojo has been out for seven months with knee ligament problems, but played a return for the reserves against Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday.

United are eight points behind rivals Manchester City, but have been handed a huge boost by the news. Mourinho told United's website: “The players that stayed here and [were] recovering from injuries, even the ones that are recovering from big injuries, they are ready to play."

Asked which players he meant, the Portuguese responded: “Pogba, Ibrahimovic and Marcos Rojo.”

Mourinho suggested that his team struggled to maintain fluency up front without the Frenchman -- losing twice and drawing once in the league -- after he pulled up injured against Basel in their opening Champions League game of the season.

"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."

Mourinho hailed Ibrahimovic's fighting spirit as he returns from a serious knee injury at the age of 36 and urged fans to be patient with the Swede, who like Rojo, has not featured since picking up the injury in the Europa League clash against Anderlecht in April.

"You cannot expect him to be ready to play 90 minutes or play consecutive matches. He needs time to be back to his level, his fitness, his confidence and his sharpness. From the clinical point of view, for him to be ready is fantastic."