Odion Ighalo doing double training sessions with Team GB taekwondo stars to make instant impact at Man Utd
MANCHESTER UNITED striker Odion Ighalo has been working through double training sessions with Great Britain’s taekwondo stars in a bid to make an immediate impact at Old Trafford.
The Nigerian forward, a shock January loan signing from Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua, has been working with GB taekwondo performance coach Wayne Richardson.
Richardson has also worked with United star Jesse Lingard and former Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli in the past.
Ighalo is determined to be a hit at United, the club he supported as a boy.
Although Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men are on a 16-day Premier League winter break, the 30-year-old has been cracking on as he wants to hit the ground running.
The United squad will head to Marbella for a training camp, but it’s emerged Ighalo won’t be joining them due to fears he could be barred from re-entering the UK upon their return.
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Richardson told the Daily Telegraph: “If we didn’t have this break we would have been raising eyebrows.
“United are in a position now where they need someone now.
“Is there a right time or wrong time?
“He might have to hit the ground running due to injuries.”
Ighalo was offered to Aston Villa before he switched to United, but the Midlanders rejected a loan move.
United had lost out on striker Erling Haaland, who went to Borussia Dortmund for £18m.
They also tried to get former Newcastle striker Salomon Rondon, but he snubbed a transfer, preferring to stay at Chinese club Dalian Yifang.
Ighalo could make his United debut away to Chelsea in the Premier League on February 17.
The former Watford striker has joined for a £3m loan fee, with United said to be paying £100,000-a-week towards his wages.
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Taekwondo supremo Richardson is based in Manchester at the University of Central Lancashire.
He was previously a fitness coach at Salford City, owned by former Reds stars including Gary Neville, David Beckham, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs.
He has also helped former Stoke striker Saido Berahino in the past.