Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was linked with moves to Blackburn and Portsmouth even before winning the league title with Molde on Sunday, but Sir Alex Ferguson has advised his former player to learn his trade in Norway before coming back to England.

“I don’t think he should rush into it because experience is good and the experience he has got at Molde is a very good one,” he said. “He comes from the area. His wife and family are all back home there. He has won the championship and there is no need to hurry. The time will come and the timing will be important but he is easily capable of coming into English football.”

Ferguson also reflected on what Solskjaer was like as a player and why it has come as no surprise to him that our former striker is now a successful manager.

“My knowledge of Ole as a student of the game is quite clear; every game he played and every training session he took part in he always wrote it all down,” said Ferguson. “That tells you his dedication to learn the game and also his attention to meticulous detail. That gives him a great start because you need dedication and sacrifice to go into management these days. He was a great player and a very nice person. Players will respond to him.”