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Manchester United’s Odion Ighalo is making a strong case for a permanent move to Old Trafford

Odion Ighalo’s loan deal with Manchester United did not include an option for a permanent transfer, but if his productivity — and manager Ole Gunner Solskjaer’s veiled comments on Thursday night — are anything to go by, things could soon change.

Solskjaer was beaming after Manchester United routed Austrian side LASK 5-0 in their Europa League first leg matchup, with Ighalo smashing home a stunner of a goal, and suggested that the Nigerian’s skills may be needed next season.

“Odion has done really well when he’s come in and he’s enjoying himself,” Solskjaer said after the game.

“He will improve and get better, but he has qualities that we saw in him that we needed and we’ll still need those qualities for next season so let’s see what we do.

“He’s a goalscorer and he’s a striker. He doesn’t worry too much about all that nonsense build-up play — that’s a joke obviously — but he knows his job and what his role in the team is.”

One thing Manchester United fans will feel bitter about after Thursday night’s roasting behind closed doors is that none will be able to say: “I was there when Ighalo scored THAT goal!”

And what a goal it was.

As Bruno Fernandes’ angled pass came fizzing towards him, the Nigerian controlled it with an exquisite first touch on his right foot, then juggled it twice, alternating feet, before letting the ball bounce and ripping a half volley into the roof of the net. All in front of two defenders.

It was a spectacular goal that rendered Solskjaer — himself a former, accomplished striker — all but speechless and sent the United bench scrambling to the monitor beside them to take a second look.

Read: United’s win may count for nought if Europa League is suspended

That goal, plus an assist, not to mention an overall blinder of a performance earned him Man of the Match honours, his second in three starts.

If there was anything that Solskjaer wanted of a striker when he went shopping during the January window, it was a for a number 9 with the experience to keep his head in the middle of chaos, the touch to hold up play, the technique to link up with teammates, and the ability to finish when presented with chances.

There were many who did not think the former Watford man was up to it.

Former Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was one: “He must be the luckiest man!

“Going to China, being away from Europe, nobody seeing him for two-and-a-half years since he was at Watford and then getting a loan move at United.”

Three starts, four goals, one assist and two Man of the Match awards later, Ighalo is serving a buffet of humble pies on the way to being one of the best loan signings at Manchester United.

Midfielder Juan Mata, one of the goalscorers on the night, had nothing but praise for the Nigerian, and Fernandes.

Mata said: “I think we understand football in the same way. We like to play the same way, passing and moving and giving lines, playing with each other and looking for our forwards in behind like we did with Dan today and with Odion who scored a fantastic goal also.

“So it’s great to have him in the team, Bruno, and also Odion who is scoring in almost every single game that he plays, great guy, and we’re very happy now with them in the team.”

Solkjaer was more expansive: “He is very good back to goal, you can play up to him. Great link player, but maybe the best thing about him is his personality, so he’s got the whole lot really.

“He had three touches before his fourth, the finish. All them touches were high quality but he had to make them to create the space for himself.

“But the strike is on the half-volley, great timing. No-one would have saved that one so anyone would be proud of that finish.”

Whether this result is all for nought in the face of the coronavirus, with the second leg at high risk of being cancelled, remains to be seen. But Ighalo has done his best to keep his name front of mind for when the sports world is back on its feet.

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