Manchester United of England striker, Odion Jude Ighalo has received a bolt of encouraging commendations from The Red evils’ coach, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who admitted that he star’s attitude has remained top-notch despite his lack of playing time, megasportsarena.com reports.
Ighalo has failed to get regular playing time since signing a loan deal extension at Old Trafford last June, which was in contrast with the sparkling form and run of goals he enjoyed soon after arriving from Shanghai Greenland Shenhua of China, when he scored five goals within his first two months back in England.
The former Super Eagles’ striker was again left out for the duration of Saturday’s English FA Cup clash against his former club and, though observers acknowledged that it was a huge disappointment not being able to play the symbolic game against Watford, Solksjaer disclosed that Ighalo is taking the setback in his stride.
Consequently, the United legend and former Norway international conceded that Ighalo has continued showing great attitude in the face of a downturn of fortunes personally for him at Old Trafford, adding that the Nigerian striker remains a positive influence for other players in the Manchester-based club’s dressing room.
The 31-year old Ighalo has found it even more difficult to get playing time with The Red Devils with the arrival of Uruguay forward Edison Cavani and, though he had received a strong hint that he could get to play against Watford on Saturday, that did not materialize, yet Solskjaer says the star is nonplused by the development.
Solskjaer admitted that it has been wonderful seeing the matured reaction from Ighalo, who has only been featured just once in the EPL this season, and the coach posited that the striker is still working hard with the team, adding: “He’s been training really well.
“He was the top scorer in round-robin we just finished. He’s not lost any of his quality, it’s been difficult for him to be out of the squad as many times because he did really well up until the summer.
“This season he’s not had as many opportunities and not let himself down as a professional and a human being. He’s always a positive influence in the dressing room. Hopefully, I don’t need to put him on that we need goals, but hopefully, he can join in.”
