Time is right to change Manchester United's tactical setup - Amorim insists.

Manager Ruben Amorim says that altering Manchester United's formation due to media noise would have signaled "the end" for him.

Initially against Newcastle United, Amorim ditched his usual back three setup with wing-backs and instead field an standard four-man defense shielded by two defensive midfielders.

By his own admission this effectively became a back six in the latter minutes as his team held on for a crucial result - securing only their second clean sheet of the season.

Despite he once memorably remarked that not even the Pope could pressure him to adjust his approach, Amorim asserts the capacity to experiment with different setups has consistently been part of his plan.

Nevertheless, he clarifies he could only make the switch when his team were doing sufficiently well - otherwise it would seem as if he was succumbing to external pressure.

"At the time I arrived here the previous campaign, I understood perhaps I don't have the squad to play well in a back three, but it was the commencement of a journey," he commented.

"Our aim was to forge an identity. Today is a separate juncture. We don't have a lot of personnel, and we need adjust, so they comprehend why we are making changes.

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

"Whenever you discuss changing the system all the time, I cannot make a change because the squad will understand I'm altering things because of external voices and I feel that is the downfall for the coach.

"Once we are playing well in our system, that is the right time to change.

"We are going to develop into a stronger team because when our full complement of personnel return, we are not going to employ a back three exclusively."

Squad Issues Continue

Having only two victories in eight games prior to defeating Newcastle, it is debatable whether Amorim is right to claim his side have been in good form.

He is, nonetheless, managing with a injury-ravaged squad, with multiple first-team stars already unavailable for the forthcoming fixture against winless Wolves.

That number will grow if midfielder Mason Mount is unable to recover the injury that forced his exit from the Newcastle game at half-time.

Skipper Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will be absent for the Wolves clash, even though he is understood to be pushing his manager to let him to return following his muscle injury.

"Fernandes is already telling me he needs to train," revealed Amorim. "However there is absolutely no possibility he is going to feature against Wolves. Definitely not. You can write that."

The Captain's Influence Remains

However, the Portuguese star will likely continue to be a prominent presence, as whereas most unavailable players view matches from a private box, Fernandes was seen keeping a close eye on the warm-ups from the mouth of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.

Amorim expects his leader to carry on offering insight.

"He is a leader," he stated. "He cannot be the type of player that when he is not playing, he's silent and offering advice. He's constantly communicating. That is the reason he's the captain.

"He has negative aspects sometimes - the way he gesticulates - but he has a multitude of good things. Even after he recovers, he heads to observe the other guys training. There are a many things that go unnoticed.

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

Recovery Schedule for Injured Personnel

Although the exact date for the captain's return - and that of fellow unavailable stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is unclear, by the end of January, the club will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international duty.