Zlatan Ibrahimovic back to full training with AC Milan for first time in nine months, could return to Serie A action

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has returned to full training for the first time since his knee operation in the summer that has seen him out of action for nearly nine months.

The 41-year-old played the final part of AC Milan’s season with an ACL injury to help the Rossoneri win their first league title in over a decade.

He could be part of the squad that play Torino on Friday as Milan go through a poor run of form, having won just one of their last nine games in all competitions.

In their lost four games, Milan lost the Italian Super Cup final to rivals Inter Milan 3-0, before losing 4-0 at Lazio, 5-2 to Sassuolo and 1-0 again to Inter.

Milan face Tottenham Hotspur in the last 16 of the Champions League, which is live on BT Sport, but Ibrahimovic wasn’t included in the squad because of his injury problems.

“Ibrahimovic has always been of great importance for this team,” said manager Stefano Pioli last week.

“Unfortunately for him, the two games against Tottenham take place soon and right now we don’t know when he will be 100 per cent.

“I hope with all my heart that he can come back soon. Few people would do what he’s doing to come back from such a difficult and complicated injury.

“He doesn’t give up. But not having the guarantee, I had no other choice and I communicated it to him a few days ago.”

Ibrahimovic has scored more than 570 goals and is Sweden’s all-time goalscorer, with multiple titles to his name during his time at Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United.