DBasia.news – Manchester United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, believes that Odion Ighalo can provide an instant effect even though he hasn’t joined the club.
Man United will play at Chelsea headquarters in the 26th week of the English Premier League, Tuesday (18/02) 3:00 AM WIB. Ighalo, who came from Shanghai Greenland Shenhua, has yet to play his debut with United.
The former Udinese and Watford attacker hasn’t even been able to fully train with the team due to the the corona virus handling procedure (Ighalo came from China). However, Solskjaer was not worried, as he was sure Ighalo is immediately ready to play without the need for more preparation.
“I don’t have to have a training session to come and do something,” Solskjaer said, as quoted by Goal.
“As an attacker sometimes you know you are playing and doing what you can. Maybe he should get off the bench and score goals for us and than doing whatever he always does.”
“He will be involved with us (against Chelsea) and he will travel with us. Obviously he is now out of the prevention period for two weeks – and that is the only precaution we have taken. He will be traveling with us and let’s see if he is involved (playing) or not. “
Solskjaer hopes the Nigerian striker can continue to improve his fitness level so he can perform in a fit condition against Chelsea.
“We continue to deal with him and of course we have done our own program, he has done it. That will always be the case, he must continue to integrate into the group after leaving China,” added Solskjaer.
“He must get used to the players and the team and need to accelerate (rhythm of play) as fast as he can.”
“He has worked very hard, I think he might pinch himself sometimes because he is now at his favorite club at the age of 30. Hopefully he will impress us so much that we can see him play.”
United recruited Ighalo to replace Marcus Rashford who was injured. Solskjaer hopes that his experience and quality can help United for the remainder of the 2019/20 season.
“(With) an injury to Marcus Rashford … It must be said that we need another striker,” Solskjaer added.
“When we got the chance to bring in Odion, on loan, for us that’s football, top scorer (in) the African Cup of Nations last year, we thought, yes, he can help the club.”
“I know he’s a professional player, a good kid and he will give something to the group,” he explained.