Ighalo ‘Mocked’ As Second Fiddle After Scoring Opener Against Norwich

Odion Ighalo continued his record of scoring in every game he has started for Manchester United by dispatching the opener against Norwich with a clever, hooked volley.

Ighalo will never be first choice at Old Trafford but then with Anthony Martial blossoming through the middle, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer does not need him to be.

What the the Red Devils boss does need up top is a reliable understudy who will not rock the boat when not selected but also deliver the goods more often than not when called upon.

Solskjaer himself fit that description perfectly as a player, albeit one whose abilities far surpassed that of his current No25.

Ighalo’s success means they can save their transfer funds for other areas of the team as well as easing the load on Martial and Rashford.

It also means whizkid Mason Greenwood will neither be stifled in his progress nor relied on too heavily as he learns his trade.

The Red Devils are likely to be busy this summer and this poor display at Carrow Road proved how the likes of Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata are probably not up to it.

Certainly not if United have realistic ambitions of playing catch-up on champions Liverpool.

But in Ighalo they have a consistent forward happy to play second fiddle which means they can save their cash for a top striker until the end of next season.