Ighalo Heading Towards History As Man Utd Coach Names Striker In Provisional Squad Vs Chelsea

Published: February 11, 2020

Former Super Eagles star Odion Ighalo is heading towards entering the history books, with Manchester United head coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirming that the deadline day signing from Shanghai Greenland Shenhua has been named on the provisional roster for the trip to Stamford Bridge on Monday, February 17.

The 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Golden Boot winner could make his competitive debut for Manchester United against Chelsea and if this were to happen, he would become the first Nigerian player, born home or abroad, to play for the Reds since the formation of the English Premier League.

Ahead of a potential debut, Ighalo is undergoing a special fitness regime in Manchester as he was left out of the training camp in Spain because United feared the striker could be refused entry into England after the end of the training camp because he was in China within the past fourteen days.

Asked if Ighalo is available to Chelsea, Solskjaer told the official website of Manchester United: "Yeah, he is going to travel with us. We will just see his fitness work this week and I think we will get him sharp.

"We want to integrate him as quickly as we can because, of course, he is desperate to play for us".

Ighalo's last competitive match was against Shandong Luneng Taishan in the final of the Chinese FA Cup on December 6, 2019.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : manutd.com