ODION IGHALO will need one month to adapt to life with Manchester United, claims old boss Quique Sanchez Flores.
The former Watford striker completed a Deadline Day switch to Old Trafford from Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has signed the 30-year-old on loan until the end of the season to fill in for injured Marcus Rashford.
But Flores, who worked with him at Watford and in China, has insisted it will take him a few weeks to “recover the full rhythm”.
Speaking to the Athletic, hesaid: “Mainly, the problem is how they train in China. It is not the same as in England.
“Is he really ready for first-team matches in the Premier League because the physical difference is so big?
“He probably needs one month to recover the full rhythm.
“The good thing is he knows his body well, works hard on injury prevention and he is always working after training.
“I should say, also, that I felt in China, he gave exactly the same effort and quality as he gave me four years ago.
“We had the feeling in China he could recover a high level with any team in Europe.”
But Old Trafford legend Gary Neville has hit out at the club’s transfer policy after they scrambled to sign him on Deadline Day.
The Red Devils did not even put the striker through a medical before he signed on the dotted line.
Ighalo did not feature as United drew their ninth Premier League blank in the draw against Wolves on Saturday.
Solskjaer’s squad will jet to Spain during the winter break before returning to action against Chelsea on 17 February.
