Quique Flores hails Odion Ighalo loyalty after Watford brace

Manager Quique Flores has paid tribute to striker Odion Ighalo after choosing to stay at Watford and subsequently inspiring them to a 2-1 win at Newcastle United this afternoon.

The striker, 26, struck a first-half brace at St James's Park, with Daryl Janmaat reducing the arrears after the break, but the Hornets held on for their second top-flight win this season.

Ighalo is thought to have snubbed a number of offers during the summer, before penning a five-year deal last week, and Flores says that the Nigerian is reaping the benefits of his loyalty now.

"He took a decision two months ago to stay here at Watford - he had offers from other teams," the Spaniard is quoted as saying by BT Sport.

"He decided to stay here with us, so it's clever because he saw something in the football that is good for him. He is involved a lot with the team in training during the week, so for us, he is a very important player."

Flores's men sit ninth in the table.