Life as Manchester United manager has started well for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Two wins from two matches. 8 goals. Paul Pogba in fine form. A palpable excitement now reverberating through Old Trafford.

A sizeable task lies ahead of Solskjaer to lead United into the top-four, but it is one that will be helped considerably by the presence of assistant manager Mike Phelan.

That is according to former United winger Ben Thornley, who works as analyst for MUTV and has intimate knowledge of the club's inner sanctum.

Phelan has spent fourteen of his 23 years as a coach at United, five of which he served as Sir Alex Ferguson's number two.

It is a role the 56-year-old now fills for Solskjaer, who has two stints at Molde and an ill-fated spell at Cardiff City on his coaching resume.

And Thornley thinks Phelan's experience and coaching nous will greatly benefit the Norwegian in what will be the biggest six months of his management career to date.

He told TribalFootball.com: "I feel as though Mike Phelan is a guy that was at the club a long time before his departure and he worked as a coach under Sir Alex Ferguson. [He's] a very, very trustworthy man, a very calming influence in the dressing room.

"He's not somebody who screams and shouts he knows the club inside and out and he's a very knowledgeable coach. I think the club can only benefit from having somebody like Mike Phelan and his experience amongst the ranks."

Solskjaer will try and make it three wins from three when United host Bournemouth on Sunday afternoon.

With Arsenal facing league leaders Liverpool, United could potentially close to gap to fifth place to just three points by the end of the weekend.