'I Didn't Have To Have A Training Session To Come On' - Man Utd Coach Likens Ighalo's Situation To That Of Himself

Published: February 14, 2020

Speaking to reporters at Friday's pre-match press conference ahead of the visit to Chelsea in the Premier League, Manchester United coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has reiterated that deadline day signing Odion Ighalo remains in contention to make his debut even though he has not trained with the rest of the squad.

The Norwegian football tactician likened Ighalo's situation to that of himself, saying that he barely knew his teammates when he made an impact off the bench on his debut against Blackburn Rovers back in the 1996-1997 season.

Manchester United did not take the former Nigeria international to their warm-weather training camp in Spain as they feared that he will have difficulty returning to the United Kingdom because of the risk posed by the coronavirus.

"I didn't have to have a training session to come on and do something," Solskjaer was quoted as saying by United's official website.

"As a striker, sometimes you just get thrown out there and do what you can.

"It might be that he'll have to come off the bench and get us a goal and then he just does whatever he's always done."

Ighalo has not played a competitive match since December 6, 2019 when he featured in the Chinese FA Cup final against Shandong Luneng Taishan.

Igho Kingsley

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