Home » Sport » Anthony Martial learning from Odion Ighalo in Man Utd training over becoming 'seasoned' No9, reveals Solskjaer

Anthony Martial learning from Odion Ighalo in Man Utd training over becoming 'seasoned' No9, reveals Solskjaer

ANTHONY MARTIAL is learning from Odion Ighalo in his quest to become a world-class No9.

The Manchester United star is enjoying his best goal-scoring season yet with 19 strikes in all competitions.

Meanwhile, Ighalo has scored five times since his loan move from Shanghai Shenhua.

But whereas Martial is still seen by many as a traditional inside-forward cutting inside from the wings, Ighalo is an out-and-out central striker.

However, Martial has now taken up that role under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, yielding his best stats yet.

And it seems the former Monaco man is learning as much as he can during Ighalo’s time at Old Trafford.

Red Devils boss Solskjaer told Sky Sports News: “Odion is a seasoned No9.

“He’s played that position his whole career whereas Anthony has played more out on the wing.

“Odion is helping on the training pitch, in terms of his movement, hold-up play and just being himself.

“Anthony’s learning off an experienced centre-forward.

“It’s the first season that he’s really playing as No9; he’s had to have that burden of the shirt and be that central focus through the middle.

“Sometimes that’s not easy when you play for United but he knows that we trust him and I think he knows we want him to keep developing.

“We’ll keep challenging him. There are always players in and around the team – and outside the club – who would want to be No9 for United.

“There’s always pressure on a centre-forward but so far, he’s performed really well.

“He’s playing with a smile on his face. He’s had a really good season, he’s bee really important for us.

“We felt it during the couple of months he was out injured, we struggled.

“But he knows we trust him. He knows we’ll have patience with him and that we’ll keeping working with him.”