Former Super Eagles striker, Odion Ighalo has expressed optimism over his chances to feature for his English club Manchester United, Bestchoicesports.com.ng can report.

Ighalo who joined the Red Devils on January transfer deadline day have had his chances to feature for the club limited after the arrival of former PSG star, Edinson Cavani earlier this month.

The 2019 AFCON goal king has not started a premier league game for the Ole Gunnar’s side and have not scored a premier league goal either.

The former Watford striker came off the bench in the season opener against Crystal Palace but was not among the substitutes for the subsequent top-flight matches with Brighton & Hove Albion and Tottenham Hotspur.

However, he started the Carabao Cup victories, at Luton Town and Brighton, and is likely to come into manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s thinking at the weekend, with fellow forwards Anthony Martial and Edinson Cavani both unavailable.

“I’m always ready,“ he told Manchester United website. “Whenever the gaffer calls me, my idea is just to give my best in training, work hard and wait for my opportunity – to take it.

“Hopefully, I’ll just keep my head down, keep working hard every day. Come to the training ground every day and give it my best. Whenever the gaffer needs me, I will come and give my best.”

Newcastle’s current impressive form miss that United will not leave anything to chances and Ighalo says he would give his best once the coach calls him for action.

“We are working hard and looking forward to it,” added Ighalo. “We’ve been training hard. Those of us who did not go to the international teams have been working seriously hard.

“Everyone is in top shape and, when those who have been in the international teams are all back, I think we are in good heart to win the game. I know we didn’t start the season well so we’ll try to start from this weekend and try to win the game to kick the season off.”

Cavani’s arrival will increase the competition for places in attack but Ighalo believes the former Paris Saint-Germain striker, as well as new full-back Alex Telles and young winger Facundo Pellistri, will boost the squad and improve everybody’s output.

“It’s good for the team, for everybody to be on their toes to work hard,” said Odion.

“For a big team, like Manchester United, you have to have competition for players to do well and I welcome the new guys coming in. They will bring more challenges to everyone in the team, to work hard for their positions to play in the team.”