Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Odion Ighalo showed he is a 'natural striker' on his goalscoring full debut for Manchester United.
Ighalo replaced the injured Anthony Martial up front in the Europa League round-of-32 second leg against Club Brugge and scored the second in their 5-0 rout at Old Trafford.
The 30-year-old was supported by the totemic Bruno Fernandes and the influential Juan Mata in a penetrative attack that forced Brugge goalkeeper Simon Mignolet into three saves inside the first 10 minutes. United had 28 attempts overall at the former Liverpool 'keeper's goal.
Solskjaer felt Ighalo's hold-up play allowed a third runner to get forward and supplement the attack in only United's second five-goal haul at Old Trafford since Boxing Day in 2011.
Ighalo could keep his place for the trip to Everton on Sunday if Martial is still unavailable. "I think as a striker, a fellow striker myself, I know how important that first goal is," Solskjaer said. "And he's been close a couple of times.
"You can see he sniffs goals, he wants to be there where it sometimes hurts and that goal, he's sharp in his head as that ball is played over to Juan. He spins on the six-yard line when Juan puts it there. That's a natural striker.
"We did play some exciting football, one and two-touch combination, third man runs, more movement and confidence in our play. They (the players) have let their shoulders down: go and express yourself and enjoy yourself.
"Bruno coming in obviously makes a big, big difference; you can see he's got a hand in the first three goals. What a pass, what a goal that Odion's goal was.
"He (Fernandes) was in the middle of the season anyway [with Sporting Lisbon]. He's fit, he was in good form and we felt he was something we needed and I think it proves. It was a ready-made position for him.
"So very happy with the contribution and Odion as well, up front, was doing what he does. He's a target man, we can play up to him, he can hold it, he's got Juan and Bruno next to him and you've got the runners then."
