Dick Advocaat believes Jose Mourinho will get it right at Manchester United once he works out his best team, but insists 'he's not a magician'.

The former Sunderland boss will try to add to Mourinho's problems when United face Fenerbahce in Istanbul on Thursday night.

United might have steadied their Europa League campaign following an opening Group A defeat to Feyenoord by beating Zorya Luhansk and then Fenerbahce 4-1 at Old Trafford a fortnight ago, but their last four Premier League games have brought one defeat and three draws.

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho takes his side to Fenerbahce on Thursday

United have endured a difficult start to the season and drew with Burnley on Saturday

Dick Advocaat has backed Mourinho to turn fortunes around at Old Trafford this term

Mourinho has also landed himself in trouble with the FA and faces two separate misconduct charges over comments made about referee Anthony Taylor before the trip to Liverpool last month and a half-time rant at Mark Clattenburg during Saturday's draw at home to Burnley.

Asked about the Portuguese coach's problems, Advocaat believes Mourinho needs time to get it right as he searches for his best line-up.

He said: 'This man proved himself in all countries, if you see how prizes he has won it's almost unbelievable – but he's not a magician.

'Quality wise, when you have such players as United it's still difficult to find. Is it (Anthony) Martial, (Marcus) Rashford, (Wayne) Rooney? It's quite difficult.

'I'm quite sure they will play for the first place, no doubt about that, and they will start winning games as well. (Zlatan) Ibrahimovic will start scoring goals as well, because that man knows how to score.

'At the moment not everything is going the right way. You see the amount of chances last Saturday (against Burnley), it's unbelievable they didn't score. If you don't create chances that's a different story. There's no reason to be worried about the team and the manager.

United players Sergio Romero, Ander Herrera, Juan Mata, Marcos Rojo and David de Gea pose for a picture at Manchester Airport on Wednesday prior to flying out to Turkey

UNITED'S LAST FIVE GAMES Oct 17: Liverpool (a, PL) DREW 0-0 Oct 20: Fenerbahce (h, EL) WON 4-1 Oct 23: Chelsea (a, PL) LOST 4-0 Oct 26: Man City (h, EFLC) WON 1-0 Oct 29: Burnley (h, PL) DREW 0-0 Advertisement

'It's always difficult to say against a team like United who are a little bit searching for the right line-up and the right scores.

'You could see that even with such an experienced coach as Mr Mourinho and all the prizes he has won, it' s still difficult to find the right shape. It's a matter of time that United will get it but hopefully not tomorrow.'

Fenerbahce frustrated United at Old Trafford until two penalties in quick succession changed the complexion of the game. Advocaat believes it will be a different match this time but will still urge caution.

'First of all we always go out to win the game,' he added. 'Playing with that organisation we can stop United, but if we have the opportunity to attack we will.

Mourinho faces a touchline ban after two separate incidents in recent weeks

'But we play against Manchester United, a great team with great players. We could control the first half hour because of the way we played, but if we do it different way they have too much quality to punish you. They did in it in five minutes with two penalties and the game and over.

'A home game is different. With the fans behind us we have seen against Feyenoord that it can help. We always have the adventure to win the game and not to go out to pay for 0-0. But we play against another team.'