Kieran McKenna will remain part of the Manchester United first team coaching staff despite the sacking of manager Jose Mourinho on Tuesday.

The club appointed former striker Ole Gunnar Solskjær as caretaker manager until the end of the 2018/19 season and they confirmed that Enniskillen man McKenna would be staying on as part of the first team set up.

“Solskjær will take charge of the first team with immediate effect and will remain in place while the club conducts a thorough recruitment process for a new full-time manager. He will be joined by Mike Phelan as first-team coach, working alongside Michael Carrick and Kieran McKenna,” the club said in a statement on Wednesday.

It is known that McKenna is highly regarded within Manchester United having been headhunted by the club in 2016 following a successful stint with Tottenham U18s.

McKenna, who had his playing career with Spurs cut short due to injury, took over the reins of the Red Devils U18 side and made a big impression, leading the side to the Premier League Northern title in his second season.

His work also caught the eye of Mourinho who promoted him to his first team set up alongside Carrick at the start of this season.

Mourinho’s tenure at the club though came to an end on Tuesday with the defeat to Liverpool the final straw for the hierarchy at Old Trafford.

However, although Mourinho and the bulk of his staff were relived of their duties, McKenna and Carrick were tasked by the club with taking first team training on Tuesday and will now help Solskjær as he looks to lift the club between now and the end of the season after a difficult period.

Solskjær’s first game as United manager will be on Saturday away to Cardiff and this will be followed by a home game against Huddersfield on Boxing Day