By AKINWUMI OJO
ODION Ighalo’s scoring spree in the English Championship last season where he netted a remarkable 26 goals was seen by many as a fluke. The step up to the much challenging EPL was supposed to expose his limitations but months into the season the former Granada striker is surpassing all expectations
Just four months ago, Watford were given no chance by the bookmakers to retain their status. They were tipped to battle hard and speedily return to the championship just as it was happened in their previous two adventures to the Premiership.
Surprisingly however, with the dreaded Yuletide fixtures on the horizon they club are riding high and looking down the table at clubs that were everyone’s favourities to be high up above them.
The cynics scoffed at them shortly before the season when manager, Quique Flores said he wanted to achieve something special in his first season in England. The Spaniard was the club fifth manager in a year, and a hastily assembled squad of 22 different nationalities did not inspire any confidence either.
Now, with the season nearly halfway, The Hornets have scaled new heights and were 11 points clear of the drop zone before their encounter with Liverpool last Sunday, the giants who were two points below them.
But despite bringing 16 new signings in the summer, one of the key players that has been key to their rise up the tale has been the unheralded Nigeria striker, Odion Ighalo.
Indeed, only three players have scored more goals in the EPL this season than Ighalo. The former Udinese and Granada striker has netted more goals than any other player in England ‘s top four division in 2015, with 10 of them coming in the top flight.
Odds that he will score every week has now dropped considerably and he is on a 5-game-scoring streak after netting against Sunderland.
Ighalo’s pairing with Deeney has been a prolific one right from the championship where they scored 41 and 18 this term.
In such devastating form, Ighalo has been earning the praise of every keen follower of the highly watched and analysed EPL. Even the usually reticent Flores joined the chorus recently, describing the Nigerian as one of the most hardworking players he ever managed. Having managed top sides such as Atletico, Benfica and Valencia, Flores words should not be taken lightly.
But while Ighalo’s impact has been remarkable, the Nigeria is keeping his feet firmly on the ground.
Speaking in a chat with NATIONAL DAILYSports, Ighalo said: “The EPL is one of the toughest in the world and I must honestly confess that not even in my wildest imagination did I believe I was going to take it with storm the way I have done. I just cannot afford to get carried away.
“I work very hard and has never doubted my ability but football is a very funny sport. HardI -work don’t automatically translate to good results, but I am elated at where I am.
“Even a lot of heralded players have found it hard to find their feet in the EPL, but I have been able to adapt faster because of the nature of my game. I however want to say that I am still learning. Believe me, there are still so much to learn and I want to in a bid to become a better player.”