Now is right to change Manchester United's formation - Ruben Amorim declares.

Head coach Ruben Amorim argues that switching Manchester United's formation due to media scrutiny would have signaled "his demise" for him.

Initially against Newcastle United, Amorim moved away from his usual three-at-the-back setup with wing-backs and opted to field an orthodox back four with two defensive midfielders.

By his own admission this ultimately functioned as a back six in the final stages as his side dug in for a crucial result - securing just their second-ever shutout of the season.

Despite he once notably stated that even the Pope could compel him to change his system, Amorim maintains the ability to experiment with different formations has always been part of his long-term vision.

Yet, he emphasizes he could solely make the switch when his team were performing well enough - otherwise it would look as if he was bowing to external criticism.

"When I came here last season, I understood maybe I don't have the players to play well in that system, but it was the beginning of a process," he stated.

"Our aim was to forge an identity. Now is a distinct moment. We don't have a full complement of personnel, and we must adapt, so they understand the reason we are changing.

"It is not because of the influence of you guys, or the fans.

"Whenever media criticize changing the formation constantly, I can't make a change because the players will believe I'm altering things because of you and I think that is a disaster for the manager.

"Only when we are getting results in our preferred setup, that becomes the right time to evolve.

"We will develop into a better team because when all the players are available, we are not intending to play with three defenders in every match."

Injury Challenges Persist

With just two wins in eight games prior to defeating Newcastle, it is arguable whether Amorim is right to claim his side have been playing well.

He is, nonetheless, working with a severely stretched roster, with seven first-team stars already confirmed absent for the forthcoming fixture against struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers.

That number will grow if midfielder Mason Mount fails to shake off the injury that led to his exit from the Newcastle game at the interval.

Captain Bruno Fernandes is among those who will miss the Wolves clash, even though he is understood to be urging his manager to allow him to return after his hamstring injury.

"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."

Fernandes' Leadership Endures

Nevertheless, the 31-year-old will probably still be a prominent presence, as while most unavailable stars watch matches from a private box, Fernandes was observed monitoring the warm-ups from the mouth of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.

Amorim anticipates his captain to continue offering guidance.

"He is a leader," he declared. "He must not be that guy that when he is not playing, he's not talking and offering advice. He's constantly speaking. That's why he's the captain.

"There are bad things sometimes - his mannerisms he moves his arms - but he has a lot of good things. Even after he finishes treatment, he goes to watch the other guys training. There are a lot of aspects that go unnoticed.

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

Return Timeline for Injured Players

While the exact date for Fernandes' return - and that of fellow injured players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains unclear, by the end of January, the club will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental duty.