Time is right to alter Manchester United's system - the manager insists.

Head coach Ruben Amorim contends that changing Man Utd's formation due to media scrutiny would have signaled "the end" for him.

In a first against Newcastle United, Amorim abandoned his trademark three-at-the-back setup with wing-backs and chose to use an standard four-man defense with two holding midfielders.

Amorim acknowledged this at times became a six-man defensive block in the latter minutes as his team clung on for a crucial result - securing only their second clean sheet of the season.

Although he once notably remarked that not even the Pope could pressure him to tweak his approach, Amorim insists the option to experiment with alternative formations has always been part of his strategy.

Yet, he stresses he could solely implement the change when his team were faring sufficiently well - otherwise it would look as if he was succumbing to external noise.

"At the time I arrived here last season, I understood maybe I lacked the squad to play well in a back three, but it was the beginning of a journey," he commented.

"Our aim was to forge an identity. Now is a different moment. We are missing a full complement of personnel, and we need adjust, so they see the reason we are making changes.

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

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

"Only when we are performing strongly in our preferred setup, then is the right time to evolve.

"This will help us develop into a stronger side because when our full complement of personnel return, we are not going to employ three defenders exclusively."

Squad Issues Loom Large

With just two wins in eight games before beating Newcastle, it is debatable whether Amorim is right to state his side have been in good form.

He is, however, operating with a severely stretched squad, with multiple senior players already unavailable for the upcoming fixture against struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers.

That figure will grow if playmaker Mason Mount is unable to recover the knock that forced his exit from the Newcastle game at half-time.

Captain Bruno Fernandes is one of 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 following his hamstring injury.

"Fernandes is already telling me he needs to practice," said Amorim. "But there is absolutely no possibility he is going to play against Wolves. No way. You can write that."

Fernandes' Influence Endures

However, the 31-year-old will almost certainly continue to be a prominent presence, as whereas most unavailable stars view matches from the stands, Fernandes was observed monitoring the warm-ups from the mouth of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.

Amorim expects his leader to carry on offering insight.

"He is a natural leader," he stated. "He cannot be the type of player that when he is absent, he's not talking and speaking. He's always communicating. That's why he's the captain.

"He has flaws sometimes - his mannerisms he moves his arms - but he has a lot of strengths. After he finishes treatment, he goes to watch the other guys practicing. There are a many things you don't see.

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

Return Schedule for Injured Players

While the precise timeline for Fernandes' return - and that of fellow unavailable players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is unknown, before the conclusion of January, United will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international duty.