Odion Ighalo can replace Romelu Lukaku’s goals for Manchester United, says Nwankwo Kanu

The late January signing is now ready to join up with his team-mates

Manchester United’s January transfer window loan signing Odion Ighalo is ready to join up with the team, and compatriot Nwankwo Kanu feels he can make his mark felt at Old Trafford.

The Nigerian international signed for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team from Shanghai Shenhua on deadline day, but has had to wait to be involved with the first team after leaving China due to concerns over the coronavirus outbreak.

Now cleared to train and play, Ighalo could debut on Monday night against Chelsea, with United trailing the blues, who sit fourth, by six points following just one win in the last five Premier League games.

Ighalo might be a short-term fix for Solskjaer, but Kanu – who played in England for over a decade with Arsenal, West Brom and Portsmouth – says Ighalo can fill the void left by the summer sale of Romelu Lukaku.

“Yes he can replace him (Lukaku),” Kanu told Goal.com. “If you watch him play, you’d find out that he is strong and can score goals. What he needs is the service. In this team, I am sure his game will improve because the team has great players.

“Despite playing in the Chinese league, Ighalo is not a player you would look down on and say he is not a good player. I believe in him and I know he can deliver if given the chance.

“Bringing him to Old Trafford means that those in the club believe in his ability, and we have to respect that. He will give them value for their money.”

United’s top scorer Marcus Rashford is out injured, leaving eight-goal Anthony Martial as their highest-available scorer in the league.

No other player has netted more than four in the Premier League for them this season, while Ighalo scored 10 in 17 CSL games in 2019.