Time is optimal to alter Man Utd's tactical setup - Ruben Amorim states.

Head coach Ruben Amorim argues that changing Man Utd's formation due to public scrutiny would have been "the end" for him.

In a first against Newcastle, Amorim abandoned his usual back three formation with wide defenders and opted to use an standard four-man defense with two central midfielders.

By his own admission this at times became a back six in the closing phase as his side clung on for a victory - securing only their second-ever clean sheet of the season.

Despite he once famously remarked that not even the Pope could force him to tweak his approach, Amorim insists the option to play with alternative formations has remained part of his strategy.

Yet, he emphasizes he could solely alter the tactics when his team were performing sufficiently well - lest it would look as if he was giving in to external noise.

"When I arrived here last season, I recognized maybe I didn't possess the personnel to play well in a back three, but it was the beginning of a project," he stated.

"The goal was to forge an identity. Now is a distinct juncture. We don't have a lot of personnel, and we need adjust, so they comprehend why we are changing.

"This isn't because of the pressure of the media, or the fans.

"Whenever media discuss altering the system constantly, I cannot make a change because the squad will believe I'm changing because of external voices and I think that is a disaster for the manager.

"Only when we are performing strongly in our preferred setup, then is the opportunity to change.

"This will help us develop into a stronger team because when all the personnel are back, we are not planning to employ three defenders in every match."

Squad Challenges Continue

With only two victories in eight games prior to defeating Newcastle, it is debatable whether Amorim is accurate to claim his team have been in good form.

He is, however, working with a depleted squad, with multiple senior stars already unavailable for the forthcoming home game against struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers.

That figure will rise if playmaker Mason Mount is unable to recover the knock that led to his exit from the Newcastle game at half-time.

Skipper Bruno Fernandes is among 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 hamstring problem.

"Bruno is already saying he has to train," revealed Amorim. "But there is absolutely no possibility he is going to feature against Wolves. No way. You can quote me on that."

The Captain's Leadership Remains

However, the 31-year-old will probably continue to be heavily involved, as whereas most injured players watch matches from the stands, Fernandes was observed monitoring the pre-match routines from the entrance of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.

Amorim is sure his captain to carry on providing insight.

"He is a leader," he affirmed. "He cannot be the type of player that when he is not playing, he's not talking and speaking. He's constantly vocal. That's why he's the captain.

"He has negative aspects sometimes - his mannerisms he gesticulates - but he has a lot of good things. After he recovers, he heads to observe the other guys training. There are a many 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 Key Personnel

Although the exact date for the captain's comeback - and that of fellow injured stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains unknown, before the conclusion of January, the club will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international competition.