The moment is right to change Manchester United's formation - the manager states.

Head coach Ruben Amorim contends that altering Man Utd's formation due to media scrutiny would have signaled "his demise" for him.

Initially against Newcastle United, Amorim moved away from his trademark back three formation with wing-backs and chose to field an traditional back four with two holding midfielders.

By his own admission this ultimately functioned as a back six in the latter minutes as his squad clung on for a crucial result - securing only their second shutout of the season.

While he once memorably stated that not even the highest authority could pressure him to tweak his approach, Amorim maintains the option to play with varied setups has always been part of his strategy.

However, he clarifies he could solely make the switch when his team were performing sufficiently well - otherwise it would appear as if he was giving in to external noise.

"When I arrived here the previous campaign, I realized perhaps I don't have the personnel to perform effectively in that system, but it was the start of a project," he stated.

"Our aim was to forge an identity. Today is a different time. We are missing a lot of personnel, and we must adjust, so they see why we are changing.

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

"Whenever the press criticize altering the formation constantly, I cannot change because the squad will believe I'm changing because of you and I think that is the end for the manager.

"Once we are performing strongly in our system, that is the right time to evolve.

"This will help us grow into a more complete team because when our full complement of personnel return, we are not planning to employ a back three in every match."

Availability Crisis Continue

With only two victories in their last eight outings prior to beating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is correct to claim his team have been in good form.

He is, however, managing with a injury-ravaged roster, with multiple senior players already ruled out for the forthcoming fixture against struggling Wolves.

That number will increase if playmaker Mason Mount fails to shake off the knock that led to his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at the interval.

Captain Bruno Fernandes is among those who will be absent for the Wolves clash, despite the fact he is understood to be urging his manager to let him to return after his muscle problem.

"Bruno is already telling me he has to practice," revealed Amorim. "However there is absolutely no possibility he is going to play against Wolves. Definitely not. You can quote me on that."

The Captain's Influence Endures

Nevertheless, the 31-year-old will probably still be a prominent presence, as whereas most injured stars view 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 is sure his captain to carry on providing input.

"The guy is a natural leader," he declared. "He must not be that guy that when he is absent, he's silent and speaking. He's always vocal. That's why he's the captain.

"He has bad things sometimes - his mannerisms he gesticulates - but he has a multitude of strengths. After he finishes treatment, he heads to watch the rest of the squad training. There are a lot of aspects you don't see.

"I'm not sure if he desires my position or not, but he's a born leader. He is a true captain."

Return Timeline for Key Personnel

While the exact date for the captain's return - and that of other unavailable stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains uncertain, before the conclusion of January, the club will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental duty.