Brighton star thanks Zlatan Ibrahimovic for what Manchester United striker did at full-time

Brighton star Tomer Homed took to Instagram to personally thank Zlatan Ibrahimovic after Manchester United beat the Premier League newbies 1-0 on Saturday.

The Red Devils striker traded shirts with the 30-year-old at full-time.

Jose Mourinho’s side edged past Chris Hughton’s men after Ashley Young’s second half strike took a wicked deflection off Lewis Dunk.

Brighton’s Tomer Homed thanked Zatlan Ibrahimovic for giving him his shirt on instagram

The defeat may have been a bitter pill to swallow for many of Brighton’s stars but one man was left happy following the final whistle.

The Israeli came on as a second half substitute replacing Glenn Murray.

Ibrahimovic also entered the fray following the interval, in what was his third appearance since coming back from a long-term ligament injury.

Tomer Homed scored five goals in five matches for Brighton in February

The two substitutes exchanged shirts at full-time, leading to Hemed posting a picture of the jersey with the caption: “You don’t change shirts with Zlatan, Zlatan’s shirt changes you. Thank you legend.”

Man United’s next game is against Watford on Tuesday.

Hughton insists pressure is off

Brighton travel to Manchester United unbeaten in five Premier League matches but the Red Devils are one of the favourites for the title and Hughton says anything his side get from the game will be a bonus.

Albion’s boss said: “The pressure is off because of expectations. I am being realistic when I say the large majority of people in football would not expect us to get a result.

Chris Hughton says there’s no pressure on Brighton to get a result against Man Utd

“In some ways, it’s not a bad starting position because it takes the pressure off the team. We know anything we can get will be a bonus but we’re going there in good form and have been a good team so far this season.

“What is important is you stay in the game because these are the type of games where if you don’t, then you can get beat big.

“So far we’ve fared well this season and we’ll have to play at a good-enough level to do so again.”

Michael Carrick targets swift return after revealing irregular heart rhythm

Manchester United captain Michael Carrick is targeting a swift return to action after undergoing a procedure to treat an irregular heart rhythm.

Carrick revealed he had felt something was wrong during his only outing of the season – a 4-1 EFL Cup victory over Burton in September – and underwent tests to determine the problem.

Having had a cardiac ablation to correct the problem, the 36-year-old says he is now “healthy” and focused on making his comeback for United.

He wrote in a statement posted on Twitter: “I just want to clear up my situation as I’ve had quite a few people asking if I’m OK and why I haven’t been fit over the last couple of months.

“After feeling strange during the second half of the Burton game in September I underwent a series of tests. It turned out to be an irregular heart rhythm which has been fully investigated and I had a procedure called a cardiac ablation.

“I had to build up training steadily while being monitored closely but I feel fine now.

“I would like to reassure everyone that I’m healthy and back training hard with the team. I’m building up my fitness and aiming to be back in contention for selection soon.”

The British Heart Foundation describes ablation as using either heat or freezing on the areas of the heart that cause an abnormal rhythm.

BHF adds on its website: “This treatment creates scar tissue which breaks abnormal circuits in the heart (and) destroys areas of the heart muscle which are triggering arrhythmias.”

Carrick has been a key presence at the centre of United’s midfield for over a decade, having joined from Tottenham in an £18million deal in the summer of 2006.

He has made more than 400 appearances for the Red Devils and his trophy haul includes five Premier League crowns and FA Cup and Champions League triumphs.

After he signed a one-year deal in May to extend his stay at Old Trafford until the end of this campaign, United manager Jose Mourinho labelled the veteran as “one of the true professionals of the game”.

Carrick made 38 appearances, including 18 Premier League starts, last season and was made club captain over the summer following the departure of Wayne Rooney to Everton.

“We wish Michael well and look forward to seeing him back on the pitch soon,” the club said.

Mourinho: Mkhitaryan was disappearing

Jose Mourinho has accused Henrikh Mkhitaryan of “disappearing” and told the Manchester United star he must raise his game.

Mourinho has axed Mkhitaryan from his last two match-day squads after losing patience with the £27million attacking midfielder following a dramatic loss of form.

Mhikitaryan has been missing from united’s recent match-day squads

Although the 28-year-old will be restored to for Saturday’s visit of Brighton, the Old Trafford boss warned him – and the rest of their players – he will not tolerate such sub-par displays.

“I wasn’t happy with his last performances,” said Mourinho.

“I’m not speaking about one or two, I’m speaking about three, four or five.
“He started the season very well and after that, step by step, he was disappearing.

“His performance levels in terms of goal-scoring and assists, high pressing, recovering the ball high up the pitch, bringing the team with him as a
No.10, were decreasing.

“That was enough, because the others worked to have a chance.

Mhikitaryan’s fantastic start to the season has disappeared in the last three months

“Everybody works to have a chance. It’s as simple as that.”

Mkhitaryan had five assists by the end of August but has had none since. He has managed just one goal in 11 Premier League appearances this term.

Asked if Mkhitaryan will start against Brighton , Mourinho said on Friday morning: “I don’t know. I still have one training session but, for sure, he will be back in the group.

Mourinho says he won’t tolerate poor performances from any of his players

“For him to be back to the group, it means that somebody is going to leave the group. That’s life. The rules are like this. It’s only 11 players plus seven [on the bench].

“When you have a chance and the performance is not what you expect, that’s normal.

“That’s life. You have to perform.”

Rio Ferdinand: Man United summer signing is an animal

Rio Ferdinand has talked up Manchester United signing Romelu Lukaku as an “animal” ahead of the visit of Brighton this weekend.

The Belgium international moved to Manchester United in a £75m deal from Premier League rivals Everton in the summer transfer window.

Rio Ferdinand has described Romelu Lukaku as an animal

Lukaku opted to move to Manchester United and reunite with ex-manager Jose Mourinho despite interest from his former club Chelsea.

The 24-year-old scored 10 goals in his opening nine games in the Champions League and the Premier League to make a brilliant start to his Manchester United career.

However, Lukaku went on a six-game goal drought before the striker netted Manchester United’s fourth goal in a 4-1 win over Newcastle United at St James’ Park last weekend.

The Belgian forward will be hoping to score in successive Premier League games when promoted side Brighton make the trip to Old Trafford this weekend.

Romelu Lukaku has been backed by Rio Ferdinand to score lots of goals for united

Former Manchester United defender Ferdinand talked up Lukaku’s a top goal-scorer despite his difficult run of form over the past month or so.

“Lukaku, when he’s on form, is an animal,” Ferdinand told BT Sport.

“He’s difficult to play against. If you get the right ball into him, he’s going to score goals.

“His record up until now, as a young player in the Premier League, has been nothing short of great.”

Manchester United lost 1-0 to Swiss side Basel in their last Champions League game in Switzerland.

The Red Devils signed Lukaku, Benfica defender Victor Lindelof and Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic in the summer.