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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been backed to succeed as Manchester United boss for a "long, long time" by his former Old Trafford teammate Nicky Butt.

Solskjaer has enjoyed a record-breaking start to life in the Old Trafford dugout, winning his first seven games in temporary charge.

United's form over the last month has helped to turn around what had been a disappointing season under predecessor Jose Mourinho and hauled the club back into contention for a place in the Premier League top four.

Butt has seen the positive impact Solskjaer has had at close quarters due to his role as United's head of academy, and he believes he has the attributes required to land the job long-term.

(Image: PA Wire)

"He's come in and, Ole being Ole, he has brought a smile with him," Butt said.

"He knows the club, which is massively important for me, and what he's done is come here and just said to everybody 'go and enjoy playing for Man United, go and be the luckiest boys on the planet to go and play on that pitch'.

"He felt like that when he was a player and he's trying to introduce that to the players now and it's worked.

(Image: Press Association)

"But he's also got a little bit of a ruthless streak. I don't think you can be as successful as Ole Gunnar if you've not got that. He had a dream to become a football manager after his playing career and he worked hard at it.

"He went back home to work coaching there, he had his time with Cardiff and he's gone back to Norway again.

"This opportunity has come and I know he's delighted to have that. I spoke to him on many occasions and I also know that he's going to take it with both hands and try and grab hold of that for as long as he can and hopefully it'll be a long, long time."

(Image: Clive Brunskill)

Solskjaer has involved a number of academy prospects - including Tahith Chong and Angel Gomes - since taking charge, and Butt revealed plans to loan out some of the club's younger players had been shelved.

He added: "The dynamics have changed now because the two or three lads that were going to go out on loan are now being involved in the training camps, involved in training, on the bench, in the squad."