Solskjaer Includes Ighalo In Squad For Chelsea Clash
Odion Ighalo could be set to make his debut for Manchester United against Chelsea next Monday after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer included him in the squad for the trip to Stamford Bridge.
The 30-year-old former Nigeria striker joined the Red Devils until the end of the season on transfer deadline day from Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua.
Ighalo has had to wait to make a first appearance for his new club due to the winter break but Solskjaer’s men are back in action for Monday’s Premier League game against Chelsea.
Ighalo missed United’s training camp in Spain over fears he would not be allowed back into the United Kingdom as a result of the Coronavirus outbreak, having spent much of the last few weeks in China.
The former Watford striker has been training individually in Manchester with Great Britain’s Olympic Taekwondo team and performance coach Wayne Richardson.
United are due in England on Friday and Solskjaer is eager to get Ighalo involved as soon as possible.
“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," Solskjaer told United's official website.
"We want to integrate him as quickly as we can because, of course, he is desperate to play for us.”
Monday’s meeting represents an opportunity for Manchester United to cut the gap between them and fourth-placed Chelsea to just three points.
United won the corresponding fixture 4-0 at Old Trafford on the opening day of the season.
