Manchester United

Roy Keane credits Odion Ighalo for 'igniting Anthony Martial reaction'

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 08 March 2020

Keane credits Ighalo for 'igniting Martial reaction'

Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane says that Odion Ighalo's arrival at Old Trafford has sparked Anthony Martial's recent form.

Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane has claimed that Odion Ighalo's mid-season arrival at Old Trafford has played a key role in Anthony Martial's recent form.

Martial has scored in three of United's five Premier League matches since Ighalo joined the 20-time English champions on loan from Shanghai Shenhua for the remainder of the season.

The France international's latest strike came in Sunday's 2-0 win over Manchester City, and Keane has insisted that his former club's late January business has helped their number nine.

"You've had a reaction as well from Martial. Sometimes a new striker comes in, you praise the new striker, but then that pushes the other lads," Keane told Sky Sports News.

"There's almost been a reaction from Martial, thinking: 'Oh, I've got another player to fight with for my position'. And there's been a good reaction."

Martial has now found the back of the net on 16 occasions in 34 appearances at club level this season, including 11 goals in 23 Premier League outings, which is his joint-best scoring record since arriving from Monaco.