Odion Ighalo has spoken about training under the imposed COVID-19 conditions and his team-mates eagerness to get back to business.
The 30-year old Nigerian striker’s loan extension with the Reds from Chinese side Shanghai Shenhai was confirmed on Monday, as per Manchester United.
The successful loan extension will see Ighalo stay with the United team until January 2021. Prior to the extension, Ighalo was set to miss out on the resumption of the Premier League and return back to China on June 1.
Speaking to MUTV Group Chat, Ighalo confirmed that the United squad is fully fit and boasts a variety of selection options for current manager, Ole Gunner Solskjaer: “Everyone is looking good. Running, working hard and playing football. Little two-a-sides and doing some ball work. Everyone is getting better and better.
“Everyone is back, even Paul [Pogba] is training back normally and Rashy [Marcus Rashford] is back training as normal. Everyone is training normally and training full and all that, so the squad is full and everyone is ready, I think.”
Having bagged one of the last goals scored by United in a 5-0 win against LASK before the country went into lockdown, Ighalo has hinted that football behind closed doors may help players once the league comes back.
He added: “It was strange, you know, but it’s okay. We know there is nothing we can do now but play behind closed doors and we’re happy to do it.
“In the game against LASK, it was strange because you could hear everything when your team-mates shouted, in a normal game, you can’t hear, but it was clear and loud. It’s a bit strange without fans and difficult, but we have to be safe so we have to do it.”
Ighalo, the United favourite who is soon becoming a cult hero went onto speculate the part he’ll play in United’s remaining games.
”I can’t wait for the league to start again.” he said. ”I’m really looking forward to it. We did mention today there could be 15-16 games left before the season is finished and I know everybody should be ready because no matter who starts the game, we know everybody is going to take part in the games. So we have to be read, physically and mentally because everybody is going to get a chance. We’re working hard and I believe we’re going to do great.”
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