Jose Mourinho: 'Impossible to drop Zlatan Ibrahimovic'

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has revealed that he will again start Zlatan Ibrahimovic in Saturday's Premier League clash with West Bromwich Albion.

The 35-year-old has already featured for 180 minutes this week in victories over Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace, scoring the crucial winner at Selhurst Park to once more prove his worth to the Red Devils.

Ibrahimovic's tally of 1,350 minutes this season is already more than any other United player, while his nine league goals have also helped his side to a total of eight points - more than any other player in the division.

Despite the fixtures piling up in the busy festive period, Mourinho will not rotate his side too much for the trip to The Hawthorns, but admits that he will have to leave the ex-Sweden international on the bench in the coming weeks.

"It is impossible [to drop him]," he told reporters. "But tomorrow is a last effort then they will have a week without football. That week is a week they will need, especially a guy like him. As a striker it's an impossible position to hide.

"He's doing phenomenal. He will play again and then one week to rest. I'm not surprised [by him] at all. I knew from the physical point of view he could resist. He must not play 60 matches, I must give him a rest. He was suspended for Arsenal and some matches for the Europa League. I will find a way of giving him a rest."

Mourinho also confirmed ahead of Saturday evening's match with the Baggies that Chris Smalling is back in contention, but Eric Bailly is likely to miss out with a knock sustained in the 2-1 win over Palace.