Paul Scholes questions Man Utd's decision to sign Odion Ighalo

Manchester United secured former Watford striker Odion Ighalo on loan in the January transfer window after Marcus Rashford picked up an injury.

Paul Scholes has questioned whether Odion Ighalo is good enough for Manchester United.

Ighalo, signed on loan from Shanghai Shenhua until the end of the season, will join up with the United squad this weekend, ahead of Monday's Premier League trip to Chelsea.

The striker has been training away from United's AON Complex for the past two weeks as a precaution against the coronavirus, following his arrival from China.

United moved to sign Ighalo on deadline day as cover for top scorer Marcus Rashford, who is out for at least three months with a double stress fracture of the back.

But United legend Scholes has questioned whether former Watford and Nigeria forward Ighalo, 30, has enough quality for Ole Gunnar Solskajer's side.

“I don’t think he’s a signing for the long term,” said Scholes. “I think his scoring record in China is very good, but is it that credible? I don’t know.

“He's an out-and-out centre forward and I don’t think United have an out-and-out centre forward. He’ll play with his back to goal and he might bring players into play.

“It’s good to have an extra body, but when you’re United, you want an extra body with quality, and he’s got that to prove.

“He’ll bring something different. I don’t see him starting many games.”

Scholes also took a subtle dig at United's arch rivals Liverpool, claiming the runaway Premier League leaders are not as good as Manchester City's back-to-back champions.

Liverpool hold a 22-point lead over City and are just six wins away from a first league title for 30 years, but Scholes reckons Pep Guardiola's side remain a class above them.

“No I don’t think they are [better than City],” said Scholes. “I still think Pep’s team will always play better football. Liverpool’s team just get the job done."

Scholes, speaking on Robbie Savage's Premier League Breakfast, added: “What they [Liverpool] have done so far is nothing other than sensational. They can go and win the treble, they can go the season unbeaten.”

“You do think that one team at some point will beat them, but what they’ve done so far is sensational. You wouldn’t bet against them winning the treble.”