The Nigerian is in line to make his full debut for the club in a Europa League clash on Thursday after impressing his manager.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admits he is becoming fonder of on-loan striker Odion Ighalo with every passing moment spent together in training.
The former Super Eagles ace completed his temporary switch to Manchester United on transfer deadline day and only arrived at Old Trafford a few days later.
Crippling fears of the coronavirus did not allow the new signing to join his teammates for a midseason training break in Spain, forcing him to train alone back in Manchester.
Ighalo did enough, though, to make the matchday squad to Chelsea on Monday and even played the last few minutes of the game as the Red Devils earned a solid 2-0 win.
The 30-year-old has since spent more time with his teammates and boss, revealing the human and professional side of him.
Speaking ahead of United’s trip to Club Brugge, Solskjaer hailed the Nigerian’s goalscoring ability and his conduct off the ball.
“Odion is a different type of striker, a goal scorer. We have seen him in training; he knows how to play as a centre-forward, he’s a fantastic professional and human,” revealed Solskjaer at his pre-match press conference, according to quotes obtained from TeamTalk.
“He has already added to the squad, and they’ve taken to him. We hope he will sharpen up because it’s been a while since he has played, and he needs to do a little extra after training. We need to give him as much game time as possible. I’m sure he will take his chances.”
Ighalo and the rest of the United squad are in Belgium to face Brugge in a first-leg tie of the Europa League knockout round.
