Ole’s praise for his band of coaches

OLE Gunnar Solskjaer has hailed the influence of new United coach Martyn Pert along with his other staff members.

Pert, 41, joined the Reds in October as their strength and conditioning specialist and has had previous spells at Watford, Fulham, Coventry, and Cardiff, where the Old Trafford boss first came across him in January 2014.

United brought Pert in from Major League Soccer side Vancouver Whitecaps, where he was assistant manager, and the Norfolk-born coach has been present for training sessions at Carrington.

Solskjaer recently defended first-team coaches Michael Carrick, 38, and Kieran McKenna, 33, amid accusations United lack experience on their senior staff and again lauded the pair.

“I can’t fault the effort and commitment that the boys have shown every single day at Carrington and in matches,” Solskjaer said. “And I have to say that our coaches are doing a fantastic job in preparing the lads for each game.

“The amount of work they do and the hours they spend preparing each training session and getting ready for games is fantastic.

“Michael Carrick, Kieran McKenna, Martyn Pert and the analysis group all make it easier for [assistant manager] Mick Phelan and myself to put a team out, and the players have shown that they can respond to different approaches and plans by coping with various formations in recent weeks.”

Goalkeeping coach Richard Hartis has been joined by youth team equivalent Alan Fettis.