Neil Warnock doesn't think Ole Gunnar Solskjaer can lose after being appointed interim manager of Manchester United.

Former United striker Solskjaer has been put in temporary charge after Jose Mourinho was sacked on Tuesday following two-and-a-half years at Old Trafford.

There are no suggestions that the move is anything other than a short-term fix but Warnock still believes the 45-year-old could make the most of the surprise opportunity and become a permanent fixture beyond the summer.

"I bet Ole can't believe his luck," Cardiff manager Warnock said ahead of Solskjaer's first game against his former club on Saturday evening. "I think it's the best job Ole will have in his life, because he can't lose really.

"He'll hold the fort until the end of the season, he's there for at least six months and if he does well he'll get a couple of years. And if he doesn't, he goes back to where he was enjoying it anyhow."

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Norwegian club Molde have allowed Solskjaer to make the temporary switch, with United expected to appoint a long-term successor to Mourinho in the summer.

He has had success in his native Norway, but his only previous experience of managing in the Premier League proved to be a disaster.

Solskjaer spent an ill-fated nine months at Cardiff in 2014 when the Bluebirds suffered relegation and were 17th in the Championship when the former striker was sacked.

Asked about the possibility of Solskjaer receiving a hostile reception from Cardiff fans, Warnock said: "I think that will drive his new players.

"I don't see anything in that. He tried his best, he was a young manager and he obviously made mistakes that I'm sure he's learned from.

"He's had a really good time where he's comfortable at home, and he's been given an opportunity that he could never have dreamed of.

"He won't have believed the phone call he got (from Manchester United) originally, and he'll still be on cloud nine."

Solskjaer began work at United on Thursday (Getty)

Warnock expressed sympathy for Mourinho, whose reign came to an end on Tuesday with United sixth in the Premier League and a distant 19 points behind leaders Liverpool after 17 games.

The veteran Cardiff boss, a friend of Mourinho, suggested player power was a key part in the Portuguese's downfall.

Mourinho had public fall-outs with France stars Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial and Warnock said: "I've got a lot of time for Jose, but sometimes you go to a club and it's not the right one.

"But probably the worst part of football management is player power. It's terrible and happened to me twice, at Crystal Palace and QPR. I remember one day not wanting to get out of bed.