Now is optimal to change Manchester United's formation - the manager states.

Manager Ruben Amorim contends that altering Man Utd's formation due to external scrutiny would have meant "his demise" for him.

For the first time against Newcastle, Amorim ditched his customary three-at-the-back setup with wing-backs and instead use an standard back four shielded by two central midfielders.

Amorim acknowledged this ultimately functioned as a back six in the closing stages as his side held on for a win - securing just their second clean sheet of the campaign.

Although he once memorably remarked that not even the highest authority could force him to change his approach, Amorim asserts the ability to utilize varied setups has consistently been part of his long-term vision.

However, he emphasizes he could solely alter the tactics when his team were performing well enough - or else it would seem as if he was succumbing to external noise.

"At the time I came here the previous campaign, I understood perhaps I didn't possess the personnel to perform effectively in that system, but it was the start of a project," he commented.

"We were trying to forge an identity. Today is a separate time. We don't have a full complement of players, and we must adapt, so they understand the reason we are making changes.

"It is not because of the influence of you guys, or the supporters.

"Whenever media discuss changing the system all the time, I can't make a change because the players will believe I'm altering things because of external voices and I think that is a disaster for the manager.

"When we are getting results in our system, that is the right time to evolve.

"We are going to become a stronger squad because when all the players return, we are not going to employ three defenders all the time."

Availability Issues Persist

Having just two victories in eight games before beating Newcastle, it is debatable whether Amorim is right to claim his team have been playing well.

He is, though, working with a severely stretched roster, with multiple first-team players already ruled out for the forthcoming home game against struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers.

That number will rise if playmaker Mason Mount fails to recover the injury that forced his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at half-time.

Captain Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will miss the Wolves match, despite the fact he is reportedly urging his manager to let him to return after his hamstring injury.

"Fernandes is already telling me he has to train," said Amorim. "However there is no chance he is going to play against Wolves. No chance. That's definitive."

The Captain's Influence Remains

Nevertheless, the 31-year-old will almost certainly continue to be heavily involved, as whereas most injured stars watch matches from a private box, Fernandes was spotted keeping a close eye on the warm-ups from the entrance of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.

Amorim is sure his leader to continue providing input.

"The guy is a leader," he stated. "He cannot be the type of player that when he is not playing, he's not talking and speaking. He's always vocal. That is the reason he's the captain.

"There are bad things sometimes - the way he moves his arms - but he has a lot of good things. Even after he finishes treatment, he heads to observe the rest of the squad training. There are a lot of aspects that go unnoticed.

"I don't know if he wants my job or not, but he's a leader. He is a leader."

Recovery Timeline for Key Players

Although the specific date for the captain's comeback - and that of other unavailable players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is uncertain, before the conclusion of January, the club will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental duty.