NIGERIAN striker Odion Ighalo looks set to make his Manchester United debut on February 20 when the Red Devils travel to Belgium to face Club Brugge in the knockout rounds of the Europa Cup.
Last month, Ighalo, 30, joined Manchester United on loan from Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua and will feature for them for six months until the end of the season. However, for now, he is not considered match fit having not played for a month due to the break in the Chinese season and Manchester United have put him on a tough fitness schedule.
Also, Ighalo’s first appearance has been delayed by the recent outbreak of the coronavirus in China, as it has resulted in the club dropping him from its Spanish summer camp. Manchester United are currently in Marbella training but Ighalo was not taken on the trip because the club fears that new quarantine rules may be introduced in the UK, stopping Ighalo from returning back into the country because he has recently been in China.
However, the club have registered the striker for the Europa League knockout phase and he is likely to travel with the team to Belgium for the game on the 20th. It is still touch and go as to whether Ighalo will be fit for Manchester United February 17 English Premier League game against Chelsea on February 17.
Should Ighalo feature against the Belgian champions, it will be his first ever game in a European competition since he first moved to Europe thirteen years ago. If he features in the match, Ighalo would come up against Club Brugge’s Nigerian duo Emmanuel Dennis and David Okereke.
