The moment is ripe to change Manchester United's tactical setup - the manager declares.

Boss Ruben Amorim contends that altering Man Utd's tactical system due to media noise would have meant "the end" for him.

Initially against Newcastle United, Amorim moved away from his usual three-at-the-back formation with wing-backs and chose to field an orthodox four-man defense shielded by two defensive midfielders.

By his own admission this effectively became a back six in the closing phase as his squad clung on for a win - securing just their second shutout of the campaign.

While he once notably remarked that not even the Pope could pressure him to tweak his approach, Amorim maintains the capacity to utilize alternative formations has always been part of his strategy.

Yet, he emphasizes he could solely alter the tactics when his team were performing at an acceptable level - lest it would appear as if he was succumbing to outside pressure.

"When I came here the previous campaign, I understood maybe I didn't possess the squad to perform effectively in that system, but it was the beginning of a project," he stated.

"The goal was to forge an philosophy. Currently is a distinct moment. We lack a full complement of personnel, and we must adjust, so they understand the reason we are switching things up.

"It is not because of the demands of journalists, or the fans.

"When the press criticize altering the system all the time, I cannot make a change because the players will believe I'm changing because of you and I think that is the downfall for the coach.

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

"We will develop into a better team because when all the players return, we are not going to employ three defenders exclusively."

Squad Issues Loom Large

With just two victories in their last eight outings prior to beating Newcastle, it is debatable whether Amorim is correct to say his side have been in good form.

He is, however, managing with a severely stretched roster, with multiple senior players already ruled out for the forthcoming fixture against winless Wolves.

That number will rise if playmaker Mason Mount is unable to shake off the knock that forced his exit from the Newcastle game at half-time.

Skipper Bruno Fernandes is a key name 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.

"Fernandes is already telling me he has to practice," said Amorim. "However there is no chance he is going to play against Wolves. No way. That's definitive."

Fernandes' Leadership Endures

However, the Portuguese star will likely still be heavily involved, as whereas most injured players view matches from the stands, Fernandes was seen keeping a close eye on the pre-match routines from the entrance of the player's tunnel before the Newcastle game.

Amorim is sure his leader to continue offering input.

"The guy is a leader," he stated. "He must not be the type of player that when he is not playing, he's not talking and speaking. He's always speaking. That is the reason he's the captain.

"He has flaws at times - his mannerisms he moves his arms - but he has a lot of good things. Even after he finishes treatment, he heads to watch the rest of the squad training. There are a lot of things that go unnoticed.

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

Recovery Schedule for Key Players

While the exact timeline for the captain's comeback - and that of fellow unavailable stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains uncertain, by the end of January, United will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental competition.