Now is optimal to switch Manchester United's formation - Amorim states.

Manager Ruben Amorim says that altering Manchester United's formation due to public scrutiny would have been "the end" for him.

In a first against Newcastle United, Amorim moved away from his usual back three formation with wide defenders and opted to use an traditional back four shielded by two defensive midfielders.

By his own admission this ultimately transformed into a six-man defensive block in the closing stages as his team dug in for a victory - securing just their second shutout of the campaign.

Although he once memorably remarked that even the highest authority could pressure him to change his approach, Amorim maintains the capacity to experiment with varied setups has consistently been part of his strategy.

Nevertheless, he stresses he could only alter the tactics when his team were faring sufficiently well - or else it would look as if he was succumbing to outside noise.

"At the time I arrived here the previous campaign, I realized maybe I lacked the personnel to perform effectively in a back three, but it was the beginning of a journey," he said.

"Our aim was to establish an identity. Currently is a distinct juncture. We are missing a full complement of players, and we must adjust, so they comprehend the reason we are changing.

"The change isn't because of the influence of the media, or the fans.

"When you talk about changing the system constantly, I cannot make a change because the players will believe I'm changing because of you and I believe that is the end for the manager.

"Only when we are performing strongly in our preferred setup, that becomes the right time to adapt.

"We will develop into a more complete side because when our full complement of players are back, we are not intending to use three defenders exclusively."

Availability Crisis Continue

Having just two victories in their last eight outings before defeating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is correct to state his team have been playing well.

He is, nonetheless, operating with a injury-ravaged roster, with multiple senior stars already unavailable for the forthcoming home game against winless Wolverhampton Wanderers.

That total will grow if playmaker Mason Mount is unable to shake off the knock that forced his exit from the Newcastle game at half-time.

Captain Bruno Fernandes is among those who will be absent for the Wolves clash, despite the fact he is understood to be pressing his boss to let him to return following his hamstring injury.

"Fernandes is already telling me he needs to train," said Amorim. "But there is absolutely no possibility he is going to play against Wolves. Definitely not. That's definitive."

Fernandes' Leadership Endures

However, the 31-year-old will probably continue to be a prominent presence, as whereas most injured players view matches from a private box, Fernandes was observed monitoring the warm-ups from the mouth of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.

Amorim expects his captain to continue offering insight.

"The guy is a natural leader," he declared. "He must not be that guy that when he is not playing, he's not talking and offering advice. He's always communicating. That is the reason he's the captain.

"There are flaws at times - his mannerisms he moves his arms - but he has a lot of positive qualities. Even after he finishes treatment, he heads to watch the rest of the squad training. There are a many things you don't see.

"I don't know if he desires my job or not, but he's a leader. The guy is a true captain."

Return Timeline for Key Players

While the exact timeline for the captain's return - and that of other unavailable players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains uncertain, before the conclusion of January, the club will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international duty.