Erik ten Hag's future at Manchester United could rest on their next two games before the October international break.
The Red Devils have won just two of their six Premier League games so far this season and kicked off a UEFA Europa League campaign with a 1-1 home draw against FC Twente last week.
The pressure has ratcheted up on the back of miserable performance in their 3-0 weekend loss to Tottenham with the Dutch coach now reportedly on the brink of dismissal.
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Selected bookmakers have made him the odds-on favourite to be the first EPL manager to be sacked this season, with a decision thought to be relatively imminent at Old Trafford.
As per an exclusive report from BBC Sport, sources close to United have confirmed the next two matches will decide Ten Hag's fate, ahead of the international window.
United head to Porto in UEFA Europa League action on October 3 before travelling to Aston Villa three days later and Ten Hag could need two wins to survive a brutal exit.
The Dutchman dismissed speculation over his job after the Spurs loss, and the club will not make a knee-jerk reaction, but 13 days between facing Villa and hosting Brentford on October 19 will give them breathing space to assess the next step.
Assistant head coach Ruud van Nistelrooy is the current favourite to step in at least temporarily if Ten Hag is removed, with the striker still a huge fans favourite at Old Trafford.
