Time is ripe to change Man Utd's system - Ruben Amorim insists.

Head coach Ruben Amorim contends that switching Manchester United's tactical system due to public pressure would have signaled "the end" for him.

Initially against Newcastle United, Amorim abandoned his trademark three-at-the-back setup with wing-backs and opted to deploy an standard back four shielded by two holding midfielders.

By his own admission this ultimately became a six-man defensive block in the final stages as his team clung on for a crucial result - securing just their second clean sheet of the season.

Despite he once famously said that not even the highest authority could force him to tweak his approach, Amorim asserts the ability to utilize varied formations has remained part of his long-term vision.

However, he clarifies he could only implement the change when his team were faring sufficiently well - or else it would seem as if he was succumbing to external criticism.

"At the time I arrived here last season, I understood maybe I lacked the personnel to perform effectively in that formation, but it was the commencement of a process," he said.

"We were trying to build an style. Now is a different moment. We don't have a full complement of players, and we must be flexible, so they see why we are switching things up.

"The change isn't because of the demands of you guys, or the supporters.

"When media criticize changing the formation constantly, I can't make a change because the squad will believe I'm changing because of you and I feel that is the end for the coach.

"Once we are performing strongly in our preferred setup, that becomes the opportunity to change.

"We are going to grow into a better squad because when our full complement of personnel are available, we are not planning to use a back three all the time."

Availability Crisis Persist

With just two victories in eight games before beating Newcastle, it is debatable whether Amorim is correct to state his team have been playing well.

He is, nonetheless, managing with a depleted roster, with seven first-team stars already ruled out for the upcoming fixture against winless Wolves.

That figure will increase if midfielder Mason Mount fails to recover the injury that forced his exit from the Newcastle game at half-time.

Skipper Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will miss the Wolves match, even though he is understood to be urging his manager to allow him to make a comeback following his hamstring problem.

"Fernandes is already insisting he needs to train," revealed Amorim. "But there is absolutely no possibility he is going to play against Wolves. No way. You can quote me on that."

The Captain's Influence Endures

However, the 31-year-old will likely still be a prominent presence, as whereas most unavailable stars watch matches from the stands, Fernandes was seen monitoring the warm-ups from the entrance of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.

Amorim anticipates his leader to continue providing guidance.

"He is a natural leader," he declared. "He must not be that guy that when he is absent, he's not talking and speaking. He's constantly communicating. That is the reason he's the skipper.

"He has bad things at times - the way he moves his arms - but he has a lot of strengths. After he recovers, he heads to observe the rest of the squad practicing. There are a lot of aspects you don't see.

"I'm not sure if he wants my position or not, but he's a leader. The guy is a leader."

Return Timeline for Injured Personnel

While the specific timeline for the captain's return - and that of other unavailable stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains unclear, by the end of January, United will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental competition.