Howe: 'I'm on the road to recovery' | OneFootball

Howe returned to work at the club's training centre in Benton this week and will lead his side this weekend when they take on the 18th-placed Tractor Boys (kick-off 3pm BST), who are running out of time to preserve their Premier League status.

And on Friday morning he spoke with the media for the first time since being diagnosed with pneumonia and admitted to hospital earlier this month, discussing his health, the care he received from the NHS and the task ahead for United's final five games of the campaign.

Here are some of the main talking points from Friday's pre-match media briefing:

On the last few weeks...

"I'm OK. I am not 100 per cent in my body, but 100 per cent in my mind - well enough to face you guys today.

"It's been difficult. I tried to take a positive experience from it... it has been a real challenge. Your health you take for granted - I certainly did. I've been through a range of emotions.

"I feel like I'm on the road to recovery and glad to be back here. The care that I received from the NHS was first class. I came back in and normal service resumed, minus running around (and being) a lot more reserved physically."

On the work done by his backroom staff during that period...

"I had zero involvement - you are either all in or all out, and I didn't feel well enough to focus on the football, so I gave Jason (Tindall) and all the coaches the full responsibility.

"Jason, Graeme (Jones), Simon (Weatherstone), Stephen (Purches) and all the coaches have done a brilliant job. I was able to watch all the games, but I wasn't fully there mentally, but I was really proud and so lifted by the performances. A big thank you to everybody and full credit to the players."

On the run-in...

"I see it being very tight and possibly going to the end of the season for the top five places. I think we have put ourselves in a very strong position.

"We go into a five-game league now where we have some tough games, but we'll have to be at our best, starting with Ipswich."

On Sven Botman and Fabian Schär's fitness...

"Sven has trained well this week. It's great to see him back with the group and on the grass - a really big step for him.

"Fabian, we hope will be okay."

On his side's final five matches...

"It is a massive five games for us - there is no denying that. We know what position we are in and what we need to do.

"The players are focused. I have seen a good reaction from them. The next game is so important - we do not underestimate the next opponent, it is a massive game in our season.

"It is about us. We are aware of other teams, but if we don't do our job, it is irrelevant what other teams do."

On Kieran McKenna's Ipswich...

"Ipswich have dangerous players in their team. They recently went to Bournemouth and won, and we know how hard that game is.

"I think they have had a difficult season. Their away form has been very strong, they have done better away than they have at home and that will be a frustration for them, but that is a warning sign that this will be a tough game for us."