Jose Mourinho has revealed that Zlatan Ibrahimovic will start against Zorya Luhansk in Thursday's Europa League meeting.
The Manchester United manager is, however, unsure about starting Wayne Rooney.
Mourinho planned to start his skipper in the Europa League tie at Old Trafford after dropping him against Leicester.
But he claims he is having to reconsider his starting line-up because he missed training this week with a back problem.
“I was completely convinced of playing him tomorrow,” Mourinho said of Rooney.
“I’m not sure if I do that because with the situation that you create to him I think he really can’t afford to have a performance that is not really good and I am here to protect him and have to analyse the best thing for him.
“If he is not totally ready for it, I will discuss that with the medical staff.”
With Ibrahimovic, however, there are no such doubts. Mourinho said of the Swede: “Zlatan starts.”
Should Rooney again fail to make the starting XI, Ibrahimovic will act as leader, according to Jesse Lingard
“He’s been a leader for the team, especially when the captain’s not playing," said Lingard.
“He’s stepped up and he’s really led the team. Obviously the young lads look up to him and most of the older ones do as well.
“When you see the things he’s done in his career [you can’t help but be impressed].”
He added: “He helps the young lads a lot. Especially me and Marcus [Rashford].
“He’s always there for us and always there for the team.”