Manchester United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has backed Celtic boss Ronny Deila to succeed in the English Premier League.

Solskjaer will be renewing his rivalry with Deila when his Molde side square off against Scottish champions Celtic in the Europa League on Thursday night and ahead of the clash, the former Cardiff City boss has backed his counterpart to make a successful move to the English top flight one day.

"When you come to Celtic and withstand all the demands, expectations and pressure, it gives him a great chance of maybe going to the Premier League one day," said Solksjaer.

"That is maybe the natural step for him after being at such a big club. I think he can go far. He's an innovative coach, he's enthusiastic and I have a lot of time for him.

"It has been a healthy rivalry between us. He won the league 2013, we won the league 2012 and 2011.

"We played a few games against each other, it is just a kind of friendly relationship. We spoke on the phone a few times when I was at Cardiff and when he came over to Celtic, so we have kept in touch.

"I think he has done great at Celtic. We can see now a Ronny Deila team playing football, but in the beginning it takes time. It needs time to get that settled.

"I think they now look like what Ronny did in Norway, you can see the rotations and you can see the triangles.

"The passing and the movement is there, but of course there is a demand for results all the time. You have got to win the league and you have got to win the Scottish Cup, you have got to be in the Champions League. This time around they are playing us."