The moment is right to change Man Utd's system - Amorim declares.

Head coach Ruben Amorim argues that switching Man Utd's formation due to external noise would have been "the finish" for him.

In a first against Newcastle, Amorim abandoned his usual three-at-the-back formation with wide defenders and chose to use an orthodox back four shielded by two central midfielders.

He himself conceded this effectively became a back six in the final phase as his side dug in for a crucial result - securing just their second-ever clean sheet of the season.

Despite he once notably remarked that even the highest authority could force him to tweak his approach, Amorim insists the option to utilize varied setups has always been part of his plan.

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

"When I came here the previous campaign, I recognized maybe I lacked the personnel to play well in that system, but it was the start of a journey," he commented.

"We were trying to build an philosophy. Currently is a different juncture. We lack a lot of players, and we have to be flexible, so they see the reason we are switching things up.

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

"When media criticize altering the formation constantly, I cannot change because the players will think I'm altering things because of external voices and I feel that is the end for the manager.

"When we are playing well in our preferred setup, then is the moment to adapt.

"This will help us become a stronger team because when all the players are back, we are not intending to play with a back three in every match."

Injury Issues Continue

Having only two victories in eight games before defeating Newcastle, it is debatable whether Amorim is right to state his team have been playing well.

He is, however, managing with a severely stretched roster, with seven senior players already unavailable for the forthcoming fixture against struggling Wolves.

That number will increase if playmaker Mason Mount is unable to recover the injury that led to his exit from the Newcastle game at half-time.

Captain Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will miss the Wolves match, despite the fact he is understood to be pushing his manager to allow him to make a comeback after his muscle problem.

"Bruno is already insisting he has to train," revealed Amorim. "But there is no chance he is going to play against Wolves. No chance. That's definitive."

Fernandes' Influence Endures

However, the 31-year-old will probably continue to be heavily involved, as while most injured stars watch matches from a private box, Fernandes was seen monitoring the pre-match routines from the mouth of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.

Amorim anticipates his captain to carry on providing input.

"The guy is a leader," he declared. "He must not be the type of player that when he is absent, he's silent and offering advice. He's constantly communicating. That's why he's the captain.

"There are flaws sometimes - the way he moves his arms - but he has a multitude of good things. Even after he recovers, he goes to watch the rest of the squad training. There are a lot of things you don't see.

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

Return Timeline for Key Players

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