Stan Collymore reckons Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is safe at Manchester United (Picture: Getty)Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be given time to create something because there is no obvious replacement for him at Manchester United, according to former Premier League star Stan Collymore. Solskjaer is under pressure perhaps for the first time in his nine-month spell as Manchester United manager, having lost to West Ham and drawn with Rochdale in his last two outings. He also faces an injury crisis that could see him start youngster Mason Greenwood up front in a clash with Arsenal on Monday night at Old Trafford. Solskjaer is currently second in the betting to lose his job next in the Premier League, but Collymore cannot see United sacking a second manager in the space of a year. MORE: FOOTBALL Stan Collymore explains why Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will not be sacked this seasonGames Inbox: What should the next gen Xbox be called?Mario Kart Tour review – a race for your money‘I’m adamant that, barring a capitulation of epic proportions, [Solskjaer] will still be in situ come the end of the season,’ Collymore wrote in his Sunday People column. ‘[Executive vice-chairman Ed] Woodward is a smart man, and he’ll be well aware that the club is a work in progress. Collymore reckons if Ed Woodward sacks Solskjaer now, it looks like his mistake in the first place (Picture: Getty)‘Perhaps more pertinently, he’ll also be aware that sacking Solskjaer now really wouldn’t reflect well on him. ‘He’d look like the idiot who can’t get the right person in. ‘A lot of fans are looking for an excuse to relight the bonfire under the club’s owners and Woodward will know he has to balance that out. ‘So I imagine he will have looked at the different scenarios and thought: ‘Well, nothing’s going to be won or lost until the run-in and we’ll probably have a better idea of how we’ll be looking around March.’ ‘If United are eighth or 10th with six or seven weeks to go, and Leicester and West Ham are well ahead of them, then there might be a decision to be made which would see the club bring in a Guus Hiddink-like figure to do the same sort of job he has done a couple of times at Chelsea. ‘But there’s no expectation for United to win the Premier League this season because it’s widely accepted that Liverpool and Manchester City, in no particular order, are by a long way the two best teams in the country.’ To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser thatsupports HTML5 video United have not won the league since Sir Alex Ferguson left in 2013 and have only achieved Champions League qualification by finishing in the Premier League top four twice. But Collymore reckons the current boss could even fail to do that and still remain in his job, so low have United’s sights been set. ‘As long as United are in with a chance of finishing in the top four, which of course they still are, then Solskjaer is on course to meet expectations,’ Collymore added. ‘United will probably allow for one Champions League and two Europa League finishes in the next three years as the rebuild takes place. So I can’t see the point in sacking him now. ‘It’s not like they will get Mauricio Pochettino mid-season, whatever is going on between him and Tottenham, and how many other great managers are there looking for work? ‘We are not going to see Mourinho returning to the club he left last December, and Max Allegri’s name has been on no one’s lips because United want a more youthful approach.’ MORE: MANCHESTER UNITED FC Man Utd offered chance to sign Mario Mandzukic for a lower fee in JanuaryOle Gunnar Solskjaer orders Man Utd to step up James Maddison pursuitSolskjaer reveals Man Utd's priority target in January transfer window #OleGunnarSolskjaer #StanCollymore #ManchesterUnitedFC
