Football
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Zlatan Ibrahimovic to play for PSG against Metz, says Laurent Blanc

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is set to feature for Paris Saint-Germain in Friday's Ligue 1 game at Metz, while Yohan Cabaye is improving after a dip in self-confidence, coach Laurent Blanc has revealed.

After being sidelined by a heel injury since late-September, Ibrahimovic, 33, returned to competitive action with a substitute appearance in PSG's league game with Marseille just before the international break, before featuring for Sweden in their Euro 2016 qualifier with Montenegro on Saturday.

However, the striker then withdrew from his nation's friendly with France in Marseille on Tuesday, complaining of a hip problem in addition to his heel issue.

But having seen Ibrahimovic train this week, Blanc said he will have last season's Ligue 1 leading scorer available for the trip to Metz.

"He's really good. He had a little stiffness, but that's normal," the PSG boss told reporters on Thursday. "He trained on Tuesday, did recovery on Wednesday, he's available for today's [Thursday] session. You'll see him in the match squad tomorrow [Friday]."

Cabaye, 28, will also travel to eastern France with the Ligue 1 champions, who will overtake Marseille at the top of the table with a draw.

The former Newcastle United midfielder is only likely to start on the bench, however, despite the injury-enforced absence of Marco Verratti.

Since arriving in January, Cabaye has failed to establish himself as anything more than Blanc's first-choice back-up option.

And with Javier Pastore adding further competition for places by dropping into a deeper role this season, the France international has been limited to just six Ligue 1 starts.

When Cabaye has played -- notably at Lorient recently -- his displays have been below par, and Blanc has acknowledged the ex-Lille man has struggled to retain his self-belief.

"He knew that there were good players in that area. With his talent, he could have changed the hierarchy," Blanc said. "But he needed to adapt. He has had a moment of doubt, but I think he's a lot better now. The game at Lorient made him understand that he could not play like that. He understood that things needed changing."

Blanc added there was little foundation to media speculation that Cabaye could leave PSG during the January transfer window.

"It's rare a player says he wants to leave. You have to listen to what the player wants," he said. "You study the situation of the player and the club, and those interests need to coincide. We're not talking with the board about a transfer right now. We have other things to think about."

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