Solskjaer underscores Ighalo’s value in Manchester United

Manchester United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has extoled the value of former Super Eagles striker, Odion Ighalo in the club describing him as a proven goalscorer.
Ighalo joined the Red Devils on a deadline January transfer day after emerging golden boot winner at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations where his five goals helped his national team to a 3rd place finish in the competition.
The Red Devils manager handed 31-year-old marksman a starting berth against Norwich City in the FA Cup quarter-final clash on Saturday.
Ighalo made it five goals in five starts for United in cup competitions when he opened the scoring in their 2-1 win over Norwich at Carrow Road.
Solskjaer explained why Ighalo started ahead of the club’s first-choice striker Anthony Martial.
“It is great to have the option to rotate,” Solskjaer said on Goal. “Anthony Martial came on and did brilliant, but Odion gives me a chance to rotate.
“He’s a proven goalscorer and played his part in both goals. He is a great person to have around the dressing room too.
“Odion knows how much we value him in and around the dressing room; he’s a goalscorer, a poacher, he’s strong, we can play the ball into him, he showed for the second and Paul (Pogba) found him.”
United recently extended Ighalo’s loan deal from Chinese club Shanghai Greenland Shenhua after he impressed before the current season was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“It was very important (to keep him at the club), that was important for me and we worked hard to do it,” Solskjaer concluded.
Ighalo will be hoping to feature for United when they take on Brighton and Hove Albion in a Premier League match on June 30.

FA Cup Semi-final draw
Manchester United vs Chelsea
Arsenal vs Manchester City
The semi-final matches will be played on the 18th and 19th of July.