"Odion has done really well since he came in and he’s enjoying himself," Solskjaer said. "And he will improve and get better but he has qualities we saw in him and we needed and we will still need those qualities for next season, so let’s see what we will do.
“He’s a goalscorer and a striker, he doesn't worry too much about all that nonsense; build-up play - that’s a joke, obviously. He knows his job and what his role in the team is, and he’s very good with his back to goal, great link player, but maybe the best thing about him is his personality, so he’s got the whole lot really."
Ighalo was demanding of Bruno Fernandes in the rout of LASK Linz and his half-volley that kissed the crossbar prompted teammates on the bench to fixate on the nearby monitor for replays. Ighalo's qualities extend beyond his penalty box presence; Anthony Martial has not completed a full match in any of the eight Ighalo has been available for, and scored in four of his last five starts. United have managed Martial's playing time carefully, mindful of the absence of Marcus Rashford and duress Rashford came under during Martial's eight-week lay-off between August and October.
Martial was regarded as a doubt for the postponed Spurs match, though Solskjaer has adopted some kidology with recent squad selections and the Frenchman rendezvoused with teammates on the morning of their draw with Everton, rather than the night before. Ighalo is yet to make a league XI for United but would have relished dueling with a Tottenham defence that is about as watertight as a sieve.
Arguably Ighalo's standout United performance was his second-shortest in the 10 minutes against City; he held off Fernandinho, killed the ball with the deftness of Dimitar Berbatov, and shimmied past Benjamin Mendy.
The only time Ighalo ceded possession was from a hoik by David de Gea that he cushioned around the corner slightly heavily, and even then Fernandinho was rushed into sending the ball airborne with the force of Peter Kay. The next time, Ighalo held off Joao Cancelo, backheeled Fred through and drew the foul.
United risked ridicule in recruiting Ighalo from Shanghai Shenhua amid the COVID-19 crisis in China. He was forced to train away from the United training ground and it is understood staff at The Lowry - where Ighalo was temporarily residing - were not informed of the precautionary measure. The United managing director Richard Arnold bragged on the investors' call Ighalo trended above Brexit and President Trump's impeachment trial on deadline day.
Ighalo was trending again on Thursday night - for the right reasons - and ensured United's chamber is never empty.
