Michael Owen believes Odion Ighalo has silenced his doubters at Manchester United and backed the decision to extend his loan deal.
Ighalo joined the Red Devils on a six-month loan deal from Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua in January.
There were doubts about the Nigeria forward’s ability to make the grade at the Old Trafford, but Ighalo has seized the opportunity with both hands and scored four goals and an assist in eight appearances for the Red Devils.
The former Watford forward recently signed an extension to his loan deal which will see remain at the club until January 2021.
‘I like him, I like him a lot,’ former United and England forward Owen said on Premier League Productions.
‘I know people turn their nose up at him because he’s come from Chinese football or because he’s on loan, he’s not a sexy £60m player or whatever. But I tell you what, I like him.
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‘He’s maybe not the full-time No.9 for Manchester United permanently but when you’ve got [Anthony] Martial, when you’ve got Ighalo, when you’ve got [Marcus] Rashford, all of a sudden you’ve got a bit of pace, a bit of pace, a bit of guile .’
Owen also believes Ighalo could be United’s answer to Divock Origi
‘Yeah, but even more of a role I’d say, Ighalo. I think he’s another level up, to be honest,”Owen added.
‘I think he would get more game-time for Manchester United than Origi would at Liverpool in the future.
‘I like him and I think it’s a good move to extend his contract.’
