Gary Neville: 'Ole Gunnar Solskjaer return to Manchester United would be like Groundhog day'

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer may be set for a shock return to Old Trafford. Pic: John Walton/PA

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer returning for a second spell in charge of Manchester United until the end of the season would be like "Groundhog Day", according to former defender Gary Neville.

Solskjaer and Michael Carrick are set for further talks with United later this week as the club work to appoint an interim head coach after Ruben Amorim was sacked on Monday.

Another former player Darren Fletcher will lead the team at Burnley on Wednesday, with United also believed to be considering other options — including ex-United striker and previous interim Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Solskjaer initially took over on an interim basis in December 2018 following the dismissal of Jose Mourinho, before he was given the job on a permanent basis the following March. The former Norway forward was sacked in November 2021, with Carrick placed in temporary charge.

Neville played alongside Solskjaer in Sir Alex Ferguson's successful United side.

"They put Ryan (Giggs) in charge 10 years ago, then Ole came in charge and you go back to the old boys, then you go for a new one, then you go for a more experienced (one)," Neville said on Sky Sports.

"It is almost like a cycle, like a movie we have all seen before and Groundhog Day.

"What I do think is Ole is someone who absolutely loves the club, he knows the job, he has been in the job.

"The other names that have been mentioned — Michael Carrick, Ruud van Nistelrooy — these are really fantastic people.

"I trained with those guys for a lot of years. They love the club intensely, they get the club, but still they are going to come under a lot of pressure in this next four or five months if results don't go their way and they are going to have to be ready for that.

"Whoever is going to get it out of those three who are being mentioned, I wish them all the best because it is a tough role."