Manchester United legend Mark Hughes believes Nigerian striker Odion Ighalo will offer some much-needed physicality in attack for the Premier League club.
The former Super Eagles and Watford spearhead was a shock signing for the Red Devils on transfer deadline day on Friday, joining from Chinese Super League Shanghai Shenhua on a loan deal until the end of the 2019/20 season.
While Igahlo’s signing has been criticised by many pundits as a sign of United’s lack of planning and direction, former Red Devils striker Mark Hughes believes the Nigerian will offer a physical strength in attack that has been lacking since the club sold Romelu Lukaku to Internazionale at the start of the season.
“I think he’s the type that United need, whether or not that’s a long-term view that [manager] Ole [Gunnar Solskjaer] has in terms of where he wants to take the team,” Hughes told Sky Sports.
“I’ve watched them [United] on a number of occasions, both live [in person] and on TV, and whenever I do watch them I always feel that they lack a little bit of physicality at the top end of the pitch, just to relieve pressure.”
Hughes went on to cite the example of last midweek’s 1-0 win over Manchester City in the return leg of the Carabao Cup – a match in which United may have emerged victorious, but they were often overwhelmed by the pressing game of Pep Guardiola’s side.
The Welshman explained: “When they were getting pressed really hard by City in the first half, I always felt that they needed that outlet to be able to knock it up to a big man who can retain possession for them, resist challenges and then bring other people into the game, allow the team time to get up the pitch. Without that physicality, sometimes you can’t get out.”
Ighalo will hope to make his debut for United when they face Chelsea in a Premier League clash on Monday 17 February.
