Time is ripe to change Man Utd's formation - the manager declares.

Head coach Ruben Amorim contends that switching Man Utd's formation due to media pressure would have meant "the finish" for him.

In a first against Newcastle, Amorim moved away from his trademark three-at-the-back formation with wing-backs and instead deploy an traditional back four with two holding midfielders.

He himself conceded this ultimately became a back six in the latter phase as his squad clung on for a crucial result - securing just their second clean sheet of the campaign.

While he once memorably stated that not even the Pope could pressure him to tweak his approach, Amorim maintains the capacity to play with varied formations has always been part of his strategy.

However, he stresses he could solely alter the tactics when his team were faring sufficiently well - otherwise it would appear as if he was bowing to external pressure.

"At the time I arrived here last season, I realized maybe I didn't possess the squad to perform effectively in a back three, but it was the start of a journey," he commented.

"We were trying to build an philosophy. Currently is a separate juncture. We lack a full complement of players, and we must be flexible, so they understand the reason we are changing.

"The change isn't because of the pressure of journalists, or the fans.

"When the press criticize changing the formation constantly, I can't make a change because the players will believe I'm altering things because of external voices and I believe that is the downfall for the manager.

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

"We are going to grow into a better squad because when all the personnel return, we are not intending to employ a back three all the time."

Squad Challenges Loom Large

Having just two wins in eight games prior to defeating Newcastle, it is arguable whether Amorim is right to say his side have been in good form.

He is, however, working with a severely stretched roster, with seven senior stars already confirmed absent for the upcoming fixture against struggling Wolves.

That total will increase if playmaker 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 miss the Wolves clash, despite the fact he is understood to be pushing his manager to let him to make a comeback following his muscle injury.

"Fernandes is already insisting he has to train," revealed Amorim. "But there is absolutely no possibility he is going to play against Wolves. Definitely not. You can write that."

The Captain's Role Endures

However, the 31-year-old will almost certainly still be heavily involved, as whereas most unavailable players view matches from the stands, Fernandes was seen keeping a close eye on the warm-ups from the mouth of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.

Amorim is sure his leader to carry on offering insight.

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

"He has bad things at times - the way he gesticulates - but he has a lot of strengths. After he recovers, he heads to watch the other guys training. There are a lot of aspects that go unnoticed.

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

Return Timeline for Key Players

Although the precise timeline for Fernandes' return - and that of other unavailable players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains uncertain, before the conclusion of January, United will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental duty.