Now is right to switch Man Utd's system - Ruben Amorim declares.

Head coach Ruben Amorim contends that switching Manchester United's formation due to public pressure would have signaled "his demise" for him.

In a first against Newcastle, Amorim moved away from his customary three-at-the-back formation with wide defenders and chose to deploy an standard back four with two holding midfielders.

By his own admission this effectively transformed into a six-man defensive block in the closing phase as his side clung on for a win - securing just their second shutout of the season.

Although he once memorably remarked that even the Pope could compel him to tweak his approach, Amorim insists the option to utilize different formations has remained part of his long-term vision.

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

"When I arrived here the previous campaign, I recognized maybe I didn't possess the squad to play well in a back three, but it was the commencement of a journey," he said.

"We were trying to establish an philosophy. Today is a separate moment. We lack a full complement of players, and we need adapt, so they see why we are making changes.

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

"Whenever you discuss changing the system repeatedly, I can't make a change because the squad will believe I'm altering things because of you and I think that is a disaster for the manager.

"Once we are playing well in our system, that becomes the moment to change.

"We will become a better squad because when all the personnel are back, we are not planning to play with three defenders exclusively."

Availability Crisis Continue

Having just two wins in eight games prior to defeating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is correct to claim his team have been playing well.

He is, nonetheless, working with a injury-ravaged squad, with seven first-team stars already ruled out for the forthcoming fixture against struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers.

That figure will rise if playmaker Mason Mount fails to recover the knock that forced his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at half-time.

Skipper Bruno Fernandes is among those who will be absent for the Wolves clash, even though he is understood to be urging his boss to allow him to return following his hamstring injury.

"Fernandes is already insisting he needs to train," said Amorim. "But there is no chance he is going to feature against Wolves. Definitely not. That's definitive."

The Captain's Leadership Remains

Nevertheless, the 31-year-old will probably continue to be heavily involved, as while most unavailable stars view matches from a private box, 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 anticipates his captain to continue offering insight.

"The guy is a leader," he declared. "He cannot be that guy that when he is absent, he's silent and offering advice. He's constantly communicating. That is the reason he's the skipper.

"He has bad things sometimes - his mannerisms he gesticulates - but he has a lot of strengths. Even after he recovers, he goes to observe the rest of the squad practicing. There are a lot of aspects you don't see.

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

Recovery Timeline for Injured Personnel

While the precise date for Fernandes' comeback - and that of other injured players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is unknown, by the end of January, the club will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international competition.