Manchester United’s mini run could not have come at a better time for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

The true test of the Old Trafford hierarchy’s faith in the Norwegian was always going to be linked with Mauricio Pochettino – the overwhelming first choice to succeed the sacked Jose Mourinho last December.

Only Solskjaer’s outstanding caretaker reign prompted a dramatic rethink from United owners the Glazers and executive vice chairman Ed Woodward – but they remain huge admirers of the ex-Tottenham manager.

Pochettino’s availability after being sacked by Spurs last night places further pressure on Solskjaer’s position.

Mauricio Pochettino's managerial career 19 show all Mauricio Pochettino's managerial career 1/19 Mauricio Pochettino is without a job after being sacked by Tottenham after five-and-a-half years in charge.

Here is a look back at his managerial career... AFP via Getty Images 2/19 January 2009 Pochettino is appointed manager of Espanyol, with his only managerial experience being as assistant to the ladies team boss. AFP/Getty Images 3/19 February 2009 Pochettino guides his Espanyol side to a first league win at league rivals Barcelona in 27 years. Getty Images 4/19 November 2012 With Espanyol bottom of the league - though still receiving high praise from the media - Pochettino agrees to a mutual termination of his contract. AFP/Getty Images 5/19 January 2013 Pochettino makes the move to the Premier League as he replaces Nigel Adkins as manager of Southampton Getty Images 6/19 February 2013 Pochettino picks up his first win as Southampton boss, a 3-1 victory over then champions Manchester City. The first of many upsets during his time at the club. Getty Images 7/19 May 2014 Pochettino guides Southampton to an impressive 8th in his only full term at the club. Getty Images 8/19 August 2014 Having left Southampton for Tottenham Pochettino takes charge of his first Spurs game, a 1-0 win over West Ham. AFP/Getty Images 9/19 November 2014 A Harry Kane free-kick hands Pochettino a vital win over Aston Villa - a goal the Argentine would later admit saved his job. Getty Images 10/19 February 2015 A brace from Harry Kane gives Pochettino his first north London derby win. Getty Images 11/19 March 2015 Pochettino leads Tottenham to the League Cup Final, where they lose 2-0 to Mourinho's Chelsea. Getty Images 12/19 May 2016 The 'Battle of the Bridge' brings an end to Tottenham's first title challenge under Pochettino. Getty Images 13/19 September 2016 Pochettino oversees his first Champions League game as Tottenham manager, a 2-1 loss to Monaco. AFP/Getty Images 14/19 January 2017 Dele Alli scores twice as Tottenham beat eventual Premier League champions Chelsea 2-0 in the final season at White Hart Lane, with Spurs finishing runners-up. Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images 15/19 September 2017 Pochettino oversees a dramatic 3-1 Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund as Tottenham start their group with a win. Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images 16/19 November 2017 After a 1-1 draw at Santiago Bernabeu, Tottenham beat Champions League holders Real Madrid at Wembley as Pochettino reached the knockout stages for the first time. Getty Images 17/19 June 2019 Pochettino leads Spurs to the Champions League final - but Liverpool win 2-0 in Madrid Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I 18/19 October 2019 Tottenham are thrashed 7-2 at home by Bayern Munich to raise question marks over Pochettino Getty Images 19/19 November 2019 Mauricio Pochettino is sacked by Tottenham following a 1-1 draw with Sheffield Utd PA/Gareth Fuller 1/19 Mauricio Pochettino is without a job after being sacked by Tottenham after five-and-a-half years in charge.

Here is a look back at his managerial career... AFP via Getty Images 2/19 January 2009 Pochettino is appointed manager of Espanyol, with his only managerial experience being as assistant to the ladies team boss. AFP/Getty Images 3/19 February 2009 Pochettino guides his Espanyol side to a first league win at league rivals Barcelona in 27 years. Getty Images 4/19 November 2012 With Espanyol bottom of the league - though still receiving high praise from the media - Pochettino agrees to a mutual termination of his contract. AFP/Getty Images 5/19 January 2013 Pochettino makes the move to the Premier League as he replaces Nigel Adkins as manager of Southampton Getty Images 6/19 February 2013 Pochettino picks up his first win as Southampton boss, a 3-1 victory over then champions Manchester City. The first of many upsets during his time at the club. Getty Images 7/19 May 2014 Pochettino guides Southampton to an impressive 8th in his only full term at the club. Getty Images 8/19 August 2014 Having left Southampton for Tottenham Pochettino takes charge of his first Spurs game, a 1-0 win over West Ham. AFP/Getty Images 9/19 November 2014 A Harry Kane free-kick hands Pochettino a vital win over Aston Villa - a goal the Argentine would later admit saved his job. Getty Images 10/19 February 2015 A brace from Harry Kane gives Pochettino his first north London derby win. Getty Images 11/19 March 2015 Pochettino leads Tottenham to the League Cup Final, where they lose 2-0 to Mourinho's Chelsea. Getty Images 12/19 May 2016 The 'Battle of the Bridge' brings an end to Tottenham's first title challenge under Pochettino. Getty Images 13/19 September 2016 Pochettino oversees his first Champions League game as Tottenham manager, a 2-1 loss to Monaco. AFP/Getty Images 14/19 January 2017 Dele Alli scores twice as Tottenham beat eventual Premier League champions Chelsea 2-0 in the final season at White Hart Lane, with Spurs finishing runners-up. Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images 15/19 September 2017 Pochettino oversees a dramatic 3-1 Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund as Tottenham start their group with a win. Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images 16/19 November 2017 After a 1-1 draw at Santiago Bernabeu, Tottenham beat Champions League holders Real Madrid at Wembley as Pochettino reached the knockout stages for the first time. Getty Images 17/19 June 2019 Pochettino leads Spurs to the Champions League final - but Liverpool win 2-0 in Madrid Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I 18/19 October 2019 Tottenham are thrashed 7-2 at home by Bayern Munich to raise question marks over Pochettino Getty Images 19/19 November 2019 Mauricio Pochettino is sacked by Tottenham following a 1-1 draw with Sheffield Utd PA/Gareth Fuller

Just as Woodward couldn’t take the risk of letting the out-of-work Mourinho be snapped up by a rival during the last months of Louis van Gaal’s United reign – the prospect of Pochettino taking up another job will be a serious concern.

But there is a determination to give Solskjaer time to prove he is the man to lead United back to the summit of English football.

His vision, and strength of character are seen as qualities that will give him every chance of succeeding where David Moyes, Van Gaal and Mourinho failed. And a run of five wins out his last six games has made Woodward’s recent vote of confidence ring a lot less hollow.

It’s worth remembering United were never put off by the notion of paying out the remainder of Pochettino’s contract to prise him away from Spurs.

They appointed Solskjaer because they genuinely believed he was the right man to end six years of decline post-Sir Alex Ferguson.

And even during Solskjaer’s lowest ebb, during a torrid start to this season, the faith in him remained.

But Pochettino’s shadow will loom large over Old Trafford for as long as the Argentine remains an easy fall-back option.