Now is ripe to switch Man Utd's tactical setup - Amorim declares.

Head coach Ruben Amorim says that switching Man Utd's formation due to media noise would have been "his demise" for him.

In a first against Newcastle, Amorim ditched his usual back three formation with wing-backs and chose to field an standard four-man defense shielded by two central midfielders.

He himself conceded this at times became a back six in the latter stages as his team dug in for a victory - securing only their second-ever clean sheet of the season.

Despite he once famously remarked that not even the highest authority could force him to tweak his approach, Amorim maintains the option to utilize varied setups has consistently been part of his strategy.

Nevertheless, he emphasizes he could solely implement the change when his team were faring well enough - lest it would seem as if he was succumbing to external criticism.

"At the time I arrived here the previous campaign, I understood perhaps I lacked the personnel to excel in a back three, but it was the start of a process," he stated.

"The goal was to forge an identity. Currently is a separate moment. We don't have a full complement of personnel, and we must be flexible, so they comprehend the reason we are changing.

"This isn't because of the demands of the media, or the fans.

"Whenever you criticize changing the system constantly, I cannot make a change because the squad will believe I'm altering things because of you and I believe that is the end for the coach.

"Only when we are performing strongly in our system, that is the opportunity to change.

"This will help us become a better squad because when our full complement of personnel are back, we are not intending to play with three defenders all the time."

Injury Issues Continue

With only two wins in eight games prior to defeating Newcastle, it is debatable whether Amorim is accurate to claim his side have been in good form.

He is, however, working with a depleted roster, with seven first-team stars already unavailable for the upcoming home game against struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers.

That total will increase if playmaker Mason Mount fails to shake off the injury that led to his exit from the Newcastle game at half-time.

Captain Bruno Fernandes is a key name who will miss the Wolves clash, even though he is reportedly urging his manager to let him to return following his muscle problem.

"Bruno is already saying he has to train," said Amorim. "However there is absolutely no possibility he is going to feature against Wolves. No chance. That's definitive."

The Captain's Influence Endures

However, the 31-year-old will almost certainly continue to be deeply engaged, as whereas most unavailable stars watch matches from a private box, Fernandes was spotted monitoring the pre-match routines from the mouth of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.

Amorim is sure his captain to carry on offering insight.

"He is a natural leader," he stated. "He cannot be that guy that when he is not playing, he's silent and offering advice. He's always speaking. That is the reason he's the captain.

"He has negative aspects sometimes - his mannerisms he moves his arms - but he has a multitude of good things. Even after he finishes treatment, he heads to watch the other guys training. There are a lot of things you don't see.

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

Recovery Timeline for Injured Personnel

While the exact timeline for the captain's comeback - and that of other injured players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains unknown, by the end of January, United will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international duty.