Now is right to alter Man Utd's formation - Ruben Amorim insists.

Boss Ruben Amorim says that changing Manchester United's tactical system due to external scrutiny would have been "his demise" for him.

Initially against Newcastle, Amorim moved away from his customary three-at-the-back setup with wide defenders and opted to use an traditional back four shielded by two central midfielders.

Amorim acknowledged this at times functioned as a six-man defensive block in the closing minutes as his team dug in for a win - securing only their second-ever clean sheet of the campaign.

Although he once memorably stated that not even the Pope could compel him to change his system, Amorim maintains the capacity to experiment with different setups has always been part of his long-term vision.

Nevertheless, he clarifies he could solely make the switch when his team were performing well enough - or else it would seem as if he was succumbing to outside pressure.

"At the time I came here last season, I recognized perhaps I don't have the squad to excel in that formation, but it was the beginning of a project," he stated.

"The goal was to establish an philosophy. Today is a different time. We don't have a lot of players, and we have to be flexible, so they understand why we are changing.

"It is not because of the demands of you guys, or the faithful.

"When you discuss altering the system repeatedly, I cannot make a change because the squad will think I'm changing because of you and I think that is a disaster for the manager.

"When we are playing well in our system, that is the moment to evolve.

"We will develop into a stronger side because when all the personnel are available, we are not planning to use a back three in every match."

Availability Challenges Loom Large

With just two wins in their last eight outings before beating Newcastle, it is debatable whether Amorim is correct to claim his team have been playing well.

He is, though, working with a injury-ravaged roster, with seven first-team players already confirmed absent for the forthcoming fixture against winless Wolves.

That total will grow if playmaker Mason Mount is unable to recover the knock that led to his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at half-time.

Captain Bruno Fernandes is among those who will miss the Wolves match, despite the fact he is understood to be urging his manager to let him to return following his muscle problem.

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

The Captain's Leadership Endures

However, the Portuguese star will probably still be a prominent presence, as while most unavailable stars view matches from a private box, Fernandes was seen keeping a close eye on the warm-ups from the entrance of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.

Amorim expects his captain to carry on offering guidance.

"He is a natural leader," he declared. "He must not be the type of player that when he is absent, he's silent and offering advice. He's always communicating. That is the reason he's the skipper.

"He has negative aspects sometimes - the way he gesticulates - but he has a lot of strengths. After he finishes treatment, he heads to watch the other guys training. There are a lot of things that go unnoticed.

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

Return Timeline for Injured Players

Although the precise date for the captain's comeback - and that of other unavailable players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains unclear, before the conclusion of January, the club will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental competition.