Manchester United great Rio Ferdinand has disclosed why he's changed his mind on January transfer window loan signing Odion Ighalo.

Ighalo, who bagged two goals in the 3-0 win over Derby County in the fifth round of the FA Cup, was a surprise acquisition by United from Shanghai Shenhua on a loan deal until the summer.

The 30-year-old was a signing out of the blue but he has been solid for the Reds, scoring his first goal for the club in the 5-0 hammering of Club Brugge in the Europa League last Thursday.

Ferdinand was speaking ahead of United's clash at Derby County this evening when he admitted to questioning the move. But now he believes the addition is starting to make more sense.

Ferdinand stated: "People and myself included were probably thinking Odion Ighalo, where does he fit into all of this?

"If you have an opportunity to sign a player at the beginning of the January window, he is not the guy you are going to sign.

"But what he does bring is a point. A point where they can focus and play into him from the midfield. He offers the platform to run off.

"Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial want the ball in behind and not to bring people in."

Luke Shaw opened the scoring for United at Derby before Ighalo netted the second of night for the Reds in the first half.

READ ALSO:

Derby County 0-3 Manchester United: Ighalo Double Seals FA Cup Quarter-Final Spot

Ferdinand added at the break: "When the ball gets played into him (for the goal), if Rashford or Martial were there they wouldn't have made themselves available like that.

"To be there first is great considering the pressure he is under. He's in the centre of goal and he's a physical presence. That's what he adds to this team."

Ighalo once again came to the fore in the second period as he fired another left-footed shot into the roof of the net to complete a comfortable night for United.

Ferdinand added after the game: "He should be (the number one trend). He scored two goals and he knows where the back of the net is. He is doing all the right things. What this gives United now is flexibility. They have someone to play off of."

Meanwhile, Ighalo could still stay at United beyond the summer if he impresses enough during his stay at Old Trafford, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer explaining the forward's current situation.

"He's here on merit," Solskjaer told Sky Sports. "He's here because he's a goal scorer and he's a different type of a striker for us.

"Of course we might get to the summer and 'yeah we want to extend this' - who knows?

"He's come in as a breath of fresh air and he's had chances - in his five minutes against Chelsea he had a great chance.

"Against Brugge, he scored. Against Watford, he had a great chance. Against Everton, he's there, he had a chance but it was a very good save. He doesn't miss the target very often."