ODION IGHALO is set to be thrust in at the deep at end at Manchester United.
The Deadline Day signing completed his shock move to Old Trafford under a fortnight ago, and is expected to feature against Chelsea on Monday night.
How Ighalo’s numbers last season compare to Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial in this
Ighalo was a popular figure at Shanghai ShenhuaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The 30-year-old hasn’t featured at all since December 1, with the Chinese Super League having been on its off-season.
The Nigerian wasn’t able to travel with his new team-mates to their mid-season training camp in Marbella over coronavirus fears – and has even reportedly been quarantined from Man Utd’s AON training complex.
But despite his new signing’s opening fortnight at United being far from ideal, boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirmed that he will be involved from the off.
The Norwegian said: “Yeah, he is going to travel with us.
“We will just see his fitness work this week and I think we will get him sharp.
“We want to integrate him as quickly as we can because, of course, he is desperate to play for us.”
Ighalo has been brought in to replace the crocked Marcus Rashford, as Solskjaer desperately tries to add goals to his side’s dwindling top four push.
And the numbers show that, albeit in the oft maligned Chinese Super League [CSL] – Ighalo certainly knows where the goal is.
The former Watford man himself suffered an injury hit 2019 CSL campaign, missing 12 games in all competitions with a hamstring injury – as well as another five while at the Africa Cup of Nations.
When he could take to the field though, Ighalo was lethal, netting ten goals in 17 CSL appearances, including seven in his first eight prior to his injury.
While he’s certainly not as creative as Rashford, with zero assists attesting to that, he certainly has the single-minded instinct of many top strikers – with the finishing ability to match.
Again, coming with the CSL caveat, Ighalo actually had a better minutes-per-goal ratio [129] last season than Rashford [134] or Martial [194] have managed in this.
He has made no secret of his delight to be fulfilling his childhood dream in playing for Manchester United, and his work ethic and motivation could help to inspire those around him.
Some will simply dismiss Ighalo’s achievements in the East, but former Manchester United striker Carlos Tevez’s spell at Shanghai Shenhua in 2017 proved that it isn’t for everyone.
The Argentine netted only four goals in 20 appearances before being booted out of the Chinese club.
Ighalo starred for Watford in his first Premier League spellCredit: Getty Images – Getty
And in the 2018 season, Demba Ba only managed five goals in 17 CSL appearances.
Ighalo was hot property when he scored 18 goals in 42 games for newly-promoted Watford.
And it can be guaranteed that he will give absolutely everything he has got to make this loan spell a success.
New Man Utd player Odion Ighalo exercises away from the Man Utd training ground after move from China
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
