Ole Gunnar Solskjær would like United job permanently

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had no hesitation in answering Manchester United’s call and would love to earn the permanent manager’s job.

Jose Mourinho was sacked by the Old Trafford giants on Tuesday, with off-field tensions compounding the club’s worst-ever start to a Premier League season.

Solskjaer, whose Champions League final winner sealed the treble in 1999, has been parachuted into the hotseat until the end of the season as the club undergoes a restructuring process and searches for a new full-time manager.

Norwegian club Molde has allowed the 45-year-old to make the temporary switch “back home”, but the former United striker and reserve team coach is already dreaming of a longer stay.

“When you get a job like this and they ask you to sign for six months, you say ‘yeah, I’m happy to help out’,” Solskjaer said.

“Of course, my job now is just for the next six months to do as well and move the club forward as well as I can.

“I understand there are so many managers who would love to be manager of Manchester United, so of course I’m one of them but it’s not something that we’ve talked about.

“They’re going to do a process now for the next six months.”

Solskjaer heads to former club Cardiff for his first match on Saturday evening and has been speaking to former boss Alex Ferguson in the build-up.

“He’s influenced me with everything, to be fair,” he said. “The way he’s dealt with people, the way he was manager of the club. How he kept 25 international players happy and hungry, wanting to improve, but also the staff in and around the place.

“He’s been my mentor but I didn’t understand early on that he’d be my mentor.

“Towards the last… ever since my injury in 2003 at least, I was making all the notes what he did at different, certain situations and of course I have already been in touch with him because there’s no one to get better advice from.”

Solskjaer has a number of injury headaches ahead of the trip to Wales, with Romelu Lukaku reportedly missing the game through compassionate leave.

“He’s had a couple of days off, so I’ve not seen him yet,” the interim United boss said.

“I’ve not seen Alexis (Sanchez) because he’s on his way back as well, so I’m looking forward to seeing them. That was decided before me, so that’s fine.”

Cardiff City boss Neil Warnock said Solskjaer’s stint as caretaker manager could be the best job the Norwegian will ever have as he has nothing to lose.

“It’s the best job Ole will have in his life, because you can’t lose,” Warnock said.

“Hold the fort until the end of the season, if he does well he’ll get a couple of years. If he doesn’t, he’ll go back to where he was enjoying anyhow.

“It’s a different type of management with Mike Phelan coming in (as assistant). With the players they’ve got, I bet he can’t believe his luck.”