Time is optimal to alter Man Utd's tactical setup - the manager insists.

Manager Ruben Amorim argues that changing Man Utd's formation due to public pressure would have been "the finish" for him.

Initially against Newcastle United, Amorim moved away from his usual three-at-the-back setup with wing-backs and instead use an orthodox four-man defense shielded by two defensive midfielders.

Amorim acknowledged this ultimately transformed into a six-man defensive block in the latter stages as his team held on for a win - securing just their second-ever clean sheet of the season.

Despite he once famously stated that even the highest authority could pressure him to tweak his system, Amorim asserts the option to experiment with alternative setups has consistently been part of his long-term vision.

Nevertheless, he stresses he could only alter the tactics when his team were doing well enough - lest it would seem as if he was succumbing to outside criticism.

"When I came here the previous campaign, I recognized perhaps I lacked the personnel to excel in a back three, but it was the commencement of a project," he commented.

"We were trying to establish an style. Today is a separate juncture. We are missing a full complement of personnel, and we need adjust, so they see why we are making changes.

"It is not because of the demands of the media, or the supporters.

"When the press criticize changing the system constantly, 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 becomes the moment to adapt.

"This will help us become a more complete squad because when our full complement of personnel are back, we are not going to play with a back three exclusively."

Squad Crisis Persist

With only two victories in eight games before beating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is accurate to claim his team have been playing well.

He is, however, working with a injury-ravaged squad, with multiple senior players already ruled out for the upcoming fixture against winless Wolves.

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

Captain Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will miss the Wolves match, even though he is reportedly pushing his manager to allow him to return after his hamstring injury.

"Bruno is already saying he needs to practice," said Amorim. "However there is no chance he is going to feature against Wolves. No way. You can write that."

The Captain's Leadership Is Unwavering

Nevertheless, the 31-year-old will almost certainly continue to be a prominent presence, as while most unavailable players view matches from a private box, Fernandes was seen monitoring the pre-match routines from the mouth of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.

Amorim anticipates his captain to continue offering input.

"He is a leader," he declared. "He cannot be that guy that when he is not playing, he's not talking and speaking. He's constantly 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 good things. Even after he finishes treatment, he goes to watch the other guys practicing. There are a lot of aspects you don't see.

"I'm not sure if he desires my job or not, but he's a born leader. The guy is a leader."

Recovery Timeline for Injured Players

While the exact timeline for Fernandes' return - and that of other unavailable stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is uncertain, before the conclusion of January, United will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international competition.