Man Utd legend explains why he has ‘no doubt’ Odion Ighalo will be a success
Former Manchester United forward Andy Cole believes January loan signing Odion Ighalo will be out to show that he is good enough to play for the club he grew up supporting.
The former Nigeria striker moved to Old Trafford on a six-month loan deal from Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua to bolster the United forward line.
Marcus Rashford – the Red Devils’ top-scorer this season with 19 goals – suffered a back injury in January that is expected to keep him out for two months, leaving Anthony Martial and youngster Mason Greenwood as United’s only fit strikers.
As such, 30-year-old Ighalo was recruited on the January transfer window deadline day, having last played in the Premier League for Watford in 2017.
And Cole, who scored 121 goals for United, believes that Ighalo will bring a new dimension to his former side’s attack.
“That’s what we are hoping for”, Cole told Goal, “There are no doubts that he will do just that.”
“He is a big supporter of the football club, he’s a fan. He wants to come here and do what he can for Manchester United, play to the best of his ability.”
Ighalo scored 40 goals in 100 appearances for Watford during a three-year spell in the Championship and Premier League, and Cole believes that this experience will prove vital.
“He’s got Premier League experience from his time at Watford, he did well there,” Cole said. “He made the move to China but he’s coming back to England and will give everything he’s got.
“Being a Manchester United fan, he will want to prove that he’s good enough for the club.”
Ighalo spearheading the attack in the number nine role could also help in the development of Martial, 24, and Rashford, 22, as he can offer advice to his younger team-mates.
“I think more in Martial’s case, as he’s been more of a centre-forward,” Cole added.
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“Marcus isn’t a natural centre-forward. You can learn off experienced players but not being that kind of natural centre-forward yourself, I think Marcus’ case is a little bit different.”