SHANGHAI AND MIGHTY IGHALO

OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER is delighted Odion Ighalo has justified his loan being extended.

The Manchester United striker (above, right) scored against Norwich and has five goals in four starts since joining from Shanghai

Shenhua in

January.

The Chinese club wanted Ighalo back after his initial four-month loan ran out at the end of May, but after lengthy talks agreed he could stay until January.

“Keeping Ighalo was important to me and we worked hard to do it,” said Solskjaer (above). “I think here. We’ll be looking to do the exact same but obviously with a little bit more initiative to get the points off them.”

Boss Daniel Farke

(above) and his men are six points adrift at the bottom of the table and were widely expected to be blitzed in Saturday’s quarterfinal at home to the Reds.

But even after Timm Klose was sent off late in normal time and with United putting six strikers on the pitch, it needed Harry Maguire’s extra-time winner to kill off the Canaries.

Odion knows how much we value him in and around the dressing room and of course on the pitch.”

United’s hand was strengthened by the Chinese government telling foreign nationals they cannot return until October.

Solskjaer added: “He’s a goalscorer, a poacher, strong, we can play the ball into him like we did on the winning goal, where he showed and Paul found him.

“He’s performing well but it also gives me the chance to rotate with Marcus, Anthony and Mason, so we’re fresh for every game.”