Jose Mourinho retains the backing of the Manchester United board to turn around the club’s ailing fortunes. United face Newcastle tonight hoping to avoid a fifth successive game without a win for only the second time in 20 years. They currently sit 10th in the league table, nine points adrift of leaders Manchester City, after just seven games.

Mourinho is under mounting pressure but there is understood to be no immediate threat to his position, despite reports last night claiming he will be sacked regardless of the outcome of the Newcastle match.

Ed Woodward, the United executive vice-chairman who came under fierce attack from Gary Neville last night over his running of the club, is determined to give Mourinho more time to return the club to winning ways.

Woodward gave support to David Moyes and Louis van Gaal, Mourinho’s predecessors, at times when their positions appeared untenable and will do the same with the Portuguese.

United officials did have a meeting with Mourinho’s agent, Jorge Mendes, in London yesterday but it was related to discussions about a new contract for goalkeeper David De Gea. The Spain No 1 is out of contract at the end of the season but the club have an option to extend the deal by a further 12 months to June 2020. United want to tie De Gea to a new long-term deal.