Manchester United's Odion Ighalo celebrates after scoring against Club Brugge at Old Trafford. PA
Manchester United's Odion Ighalo celebrates after scoring against Club Brugge at Old Trafford. PA
An undated handout picture shows Wayne Richardson, left, posing with Manchester United's Nigerian attacker Odion Ighalo at the National Taekwondo Centre in Manchester. AFP
An undated handout picture shows Wayne Richardson, left, posing with Manchester United's Nigerian attacker Odion Ighalo at the National Taekwondo Centre in Manchester. AFP
Manchester United's Odion Ighalo celebrates scoring in the Europa League match against LASK. Reuters
Manchester United's Odion Ighalo celebrates scoring in the Europa League match against LASK. Reuters
Manchester United's Odion Ighalo during training. Reuters
Manchester United's Odion Ighalo during training. Reuters
Manchester United's Odion Ighalo arrives for training at Aon Training Complex in, Carrington, Manchester, on May 20, 2020. Reuters
Manchester United's Odion Ighalo arrives for training at Aon Training Complex in, Carrington, Manchester, on May 20, 2020. Reuters
Manchester United have extended Odion Ighalo's loan spell until January 2021. AFP
Manchester United have extended Odion Ighalo's loan spell until January 2021. AFP
Juan Mata of Manchester United celebrates with Odion Ighalo after scoring his team's third goal during the Europa League round of 16 first leg match between LASK. Getty Images
Juan Mata of Manchester United celebrates with Odion Ighalo after scoring his team's third goal during the Europa League round of 16 first leg match between LASK. Getty Images

Football

Odion Ighalo 'committed' to taking Manchester United to new heights after extending loan deal

Nigerian striker has endeared himself to the club's fans, scoring four goals in eight games

The National

June 03, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

Odion Ighalo has said he will work hard to help Manchester United reach new heights after extending his loan deal until January 2021.

Ighalo, 30, initially joined United from Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua in January until the end of this season and has endeared himself to the club's fans, scoring four goals in eight games.

The Nigerian striker was set to return to the CSL club on May 31 but a new agreement has been struck that will see him remain until at least the middle of next season.

"I'm buzzing and ready to go ... the last few days have been difficult as there have been different talks about it (future)," Ighalo told United's website.

"Now I've extended my loan, it makes it more even clear and I'm committed. I'm here until January ending. I just want to work hard and enjoy it, support the team and do whatever I can to make us go higher and higher."

United have nine games left to play in the league and are fifth in the Premier League table on 45 points, three points behind Chelsea, with the campaign set to resume on June 17.

They have all but sealed progress to the Europa League quarter-finals after a 5-0 win over LASK Linz in the first leg of their last-16 fixture.

"I can't wait for the league to start again," Ighalo said. "We did mention today there could be 15-16 games left before the season is finished. We're working hard and I believe we're going to do great.

"Everybody's looking good. Running, working hard and playing football. Little two-a-sides and doing some ball work. Everyone is getting better and better."

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Five best and five worst Manchester United kits

MANCHESTER UNITED BEST: 5) 1992-94 third kit: I hold my hands up here, this is allowing heart to rule over the head. A half-and-half yellow and green top feels wrong and even the Gallic flair of Eric Cantona or good looks of Lee Sharpe could not pull it off. But the colours - first worn by Newton Heath, the club that would go on to become Manchester United - have since been adopted by fans to protest about American owners the Glazers and so this is handed an emotive free pass out of worst kits. Getty
MANCHESTER UNITED BEST: 5) 1992-94 third kit: I hold my hands up here, this is allowing heart to rule over the head. A half-and-half yellow and green top feels wrong and even the Gallic flair of Eric Cantona or good looks of Lee Sharpe could not pull it off. But the colours - first worn by Newton Heath, the club that would go on to become Manchester United - have since been adopted by fans to protest about American owners the Glazers and so this is handed an emotive free pass out of worst kits. Getty
4) 1996/97 home: A fine United home kit from Umbro, with faded white to black collar, badge moved to middle of the strip and smart dark patterns on the arms. A strip that inspired a young David Beckham to score from the half-way line against Wimbledon at Selhurst Park on the opening day of the season. Getty
4) 1996/97 home: A fine United home kit from Umbro, with faded white to black collar, badge moved to middle of the strip and smart dark patterns on the arms. A strip that inspired a young David Beckham to score from the half-way line against Wimbledon at Selhurst Park on the opening day of the season. Getty
3) 2018/19 away: A turbulent season for the club, as moaning Jose Mourinho’s reign as manager came to an end and the team’s home kit disgracefully flouted club traditions (see worst kits). But this subtle pink number from Adidas at least provided some respite during troubled times. Getty
3) 2018/19 away: A turbulent season for the club, as moaning Jose Mourinho’s reign as manager came to an end and the team’s home kit disgracefully flouted club traditions (see worst kits). But this subtle pink number from Adidas at least provided some respite during troubled times. Getty
2) 1994-1996 home: Another wonderful home shirt that is only kept off the top spot by an absolute belter. This is Cantona back from his ban for kung-fu kicking a fan with his collar raised up and ruling the Premier League. Even Steve Bruce and his bent nose looked good. Umbro’s call to have an image of Old Trafford imprinted onto the shirt was a genius one. Allsport
2) 1994-1996 home: Another wonderful home shirt that is only kept off the top spot by an absolute belter. This is Cantona back from his ban for kung-fu kicking a fan with his collar raised up and ruling the Premier League. Even Steve Bruce and his bent nose looked good. Umbro’s call to have an image of Old Trafford imprinted onto the shirt was a genius one. Allsport
1) 1992-1994 home: One of the all-time great football kits. Everything about this Umbro effort screams class; from the lace-up collar to the black and red socks. The days of tiny shorts were also rightly coming to a close as United adopted an old-school longer length with attractive red pattern on one side. As United won the inaugural Premier League season - their first top-flight title in 26 years - they also produced a game-changing fashion item. Allsport
1) 1992-1994 home: One of the all-time great football kits. Everything about this Umbro effort screams class; from the lace-up collar to the black and red socks. The days of tiny shorts were also rightly coming to a close as United adopted an old-school longer length with attractive red pattern on one side. As United won the inaugural Premier League season - their first top-flight title in 26 years - they also produced a game-changing fashion item. Allsport
WORST: 5) 2009/10 home: A stain on the fine traditions of United home kits. The weird black arrow across the top points to the floor and it’s certainly a thumbs down for this Nike blunder. Getty
WORST: 5) 2009/10 home: A stain on the fine traditions of United home kits. The weird black arrow across the top points to the floor and it’s certainly a thumbs down for this Nike blunder. Getty
4) 2018/19 home: Dark times for United and an act of sacrilege committed here from Adidas. All seems fine and dandy at the top of this strip until black stripes appear across the top’s midriff before trampling all over club tradition by substituting white shorts ... FOR BLACK ONES. Such was the shock of this treachery that it sent manager Jose Mourinho into his miserable ‘Emo phase’ before being sacked. Getty
4) 2018/19 home: Dark times for United and an act of sacrilege committed here from Adidas. All seems fine and dandy at the top of this strip until black stripes appear across the top’s midriff before trampling all over club tradition by substituting white shorts ... FOR BLACK ONES. Such was the shock of this treachery that it sent manager Jose Mourinho into his miserable ‘Emo phase’ before being sacked. Getty
3) 1994-96 third kit: A variety of blue designs dominate United’s top three. Slight echoes of the infamous Brighton debacle from a couple of years earlier with a blue and white striped top and matching shorts combination. Stripes on shorts … honestly. Allsport
3) 1994-96 third kit: A variety of blue designs dominate United’s top three. Slight echoes of the infamous Brighton debacle from a couple of years earlier with a blue and white striped top and matching shorts combination. Stripes on shorts … honestly. Allsport
2) 1992-93 away: Another shocker from Umbro. This all blue effort is covered with a black kind of tie dye pattern and finished off by a ludicrous over-sized United badge. Alamy
2) 1992-93 away: Another shocker from Umbro. This all blue effort is covered with a black kind of tie dye pattern and finished off by a ludicrous over-sized United badge. Alamy
1) 1990-92 away: An infamous abstract eyesore from the start of the 90s. Another one of these hideous old kits that has apparently now gained a cult following. But, let’s be honest, good things rarely come out of joining a cult. Getty
1) 1990-92 away: An infamous abstract eyesore from the start of the 90s. Another one of these hideous old kits that has apparently now gained a cult following. But, let’s be honest, good things rarely come out of joining a cult. Getty
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%3Cp%3E1.%20Labour%20productivity%20is%20lower%20than%20the%20average%20of%20the%20developed%20economies%2C%20particularly%20in%20the%20non-tradable%20industries.%3Cbr%3E2.%20The%20low%20level%20of%20basic%20skills%20among%20workers%20and%20the%20high%20level%20of%20inequality%20between%20those%20with%20various%20skills.%3Cbr%3E3.%20Low%20employment%20rates%2C%20particularly%20among%20Arab%20women%20and%20Ultra-Othodox%20Jewish%20men.%3Cbr%3E4.%20A%20lack%20of%20basic%20knowledge%20required%20for%20integration%20into%20the%20labour%20force%2C%20due%20to%20the%20lack%20of%20core%20curriculum%20studies%20in%20schools%20for%20Ultra-Othodox%20Jews.%3Cbr%3E5.%20A%20need%20to%20upgrade%20and%20expand%20physical%20infrastructure%2C%20particularly%20mass%20transit%20infrastructure.%3Cbr%3E6.%20The%20poverty%20rate%20at%20more%20than%20double%20the%20OECD%20average.%3Cbr%3E7.%20Population%20growth%20of%20about%202%20per%20cent%20per%20year%2C%20compared%20to%200.6%20per%20cent%20OECD%20average%20posing%20challenge%20for%20fiscal%20policy%20and%20underpinning%20pressure%20on%20education%2C%20health%20care%2C%20welfare%20housing%20and%20physical%20infrastructure%2C%20which%20will%20increase%20in%20the%20coming%20years.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Whiile you're here
THREE POSSIBLE REPLACEMENTS

Khalfan Mubarak
The Al Jazira playmaker has for some time been tipped for stardom within UAE football, with Quique Sanchez Flores, his former manager at Al Ahli, once labelling him a “genius”. He was only 17. Now 23, Mubarak has developed into a crafty supplier of chances, evidenced by his seven assists in six league matches this season. Still to display his class at international level, though.

Rayan Yaslam
The Al Ain attacking midfielder has become a regular starter for his club in the past 15 months. Yaslam, 23, is a tidy and intelligent player, technically proficient with an eye for opening up defences. Developed while alongside Abdulrahman in the Al Ain first-team and has progressed well since manager Zoran Mamic’s arrival. However, made his UAE debut only last December.

Ismail Matar
The Al Wahda forward is revered by teammates and a key contributor to the squad. At 35, his best days are behind him, but Matar is incredibly experienced and an example to his colleagues. His ability to cope with tournament football is a concern, though, despite Matar beginning the season well. Not a like-for-like replacement, although the system could be adjusted to suit.

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