Fred's agent Gilberto Silva has confessed that the Manchester United midfielder is "anxious" about his lack of playing time but is willing to fight for his place in the side.

The Brazil international has been on the periphery since joining the Red Devils from Shakhtar Donetsk in a £52m deal last summer, making him the club's marquee signing.

Despite being given assurances by Jose Mourinho that he would be used regularly in his debut campaign, Fred has started just six Premier League matches so far.

Following the sacking of Mourinho earlier this week, though, Fred has no intention of quitting the club next year and has been told to remain patient.

"The fact that he is not playing makes him anxious, but what I say to him is that he must keep working hard on a daily basis, he should be patient because the club is going through a delicate moment," Silva told The Telegraph.

"Many things have happened to him in six months. A new lifestyle, a different league and a historic club with the grandeur of United that are going under a lot of pressure. Perhaps this pressure impacts on him as well. In spite all of that, he sees everything as a learning process.

"But there is no chance of him leaving United. He has a five-year contract. It is not because the first six months were not good enough that he is willing to leave - or even after one year. Obviously when you don't play too much it is worrying because you want to show your quality. Although from the outside view it seems there is tension regarding him not playing that much, his work on a daily basis has been good.

"The club's momentum does not help anybody. It is not only related to Fred. The fact that the club is facing one of the toughest situations over the last years made Fred arrive with a huge pressure inside the club.

"Mourinho's sacking is an example of that, and there is an impact on everybody, not only on Fred, who is grateful for Mourinho believing in his signing. There was no problem between them, only respect. Even though Fred is trying to do his best and is expecting to play more, he respects the decisions from above of him".

Fred failed to even make the squad for last weekend's 3-1 loss to Liverpool, which would prove to be Mourinho's final game in charge.