The moment is ripe to switch Man Utd's formation - Amorim insists.

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

For the first time against Newcastle United, Amorim abandoned his usual three-at-the-back formation with wide defenders and opted to field an traditional back four shielded by two defensive midfielders.

He himself conceded this ultimately transformed into a six-man defensive block in the final phase as his squad dug in for a victory - securing only their second clean sheet of the season.

Although he once memorably said that not even the highest authority could force him to change his approach, Amorim asserts the option to utilize alternative formations has consistently been part of his long-term vision.

Nevertheless, he clarifies he could only implement the change when his team were doing at an acceptable level - otherwise it would seem as if he was succumbing to external noise.

"When I arrived here the previous campaign, I understood perhaps I lacked the squad to perform effectively in that system, but it was the start of a project," he said.

"Our aim was to build an style. Currently is a separate moment. We don't have a full complement of personnel, and we have to be flexible, so they comprehend why we are making changes.

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

"Whenever the press criticize altering the system all the time, I can't make a change because the squad will understand I'm altering things because of you and I feel that is the downfall for the manager.

"Only when we are getting results in our preferred setup, then is the right time to adapt.

"We will become a better side because when our full complement of players are available, we are not intending to employ a back three exclusively."

Squad Crisis Persist

With only two victories in eight games before defeating Newcastle, it is arguable whether Amorim is right to say his team have been in good form.

He is, though, managing with a severely stretched squad, with multiple senior players already unavailable for the forthcoming home game against struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers.

That total will rise if playmaker Mason Mount is unable to shake off the knock that led to his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at the interval.

Skipper Bruno Fernandes is a key name who will be absent for the Wolves match, even though he is reportedly pushing his boss to let him to make a comeback after his hamstring problem.

"Bruno is already saying he has to practice," said Amorim. "But there is no chance he is going to feature against Wolves. No chance. You can quote me on that."

Fernandes' Influence Remains

However, the 31-year-old will likely still be heavily involved, as whereas most unavailable stars watch matches from the stands, Fernandes was spotted monitoring the pre-match routines from the mouth of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.

Amorim expects his captain to carry on offering input.

"The guy is a natural leader," he affirmed. "He must not be that guy that when he is not playing, he's not talking and speaking. He's constantly speaking. That's why he's the skipper.

"He has bad things at times - his mannerisms he moves his arms - but he has a multitude of positive qualities. After he recovers, he goes to observe the rest of the squad practicing. There are a many aspects that go unnoticed.

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

Recovery Timeline for Key Players

While the precise date for Fernandes' comeback - and that of fellow injured players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains uncertain, before the conclusion of January, the club will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international duty.