Time is ripe to switch Manchester United's formation - Ruben Amorim insists.

Head coach Ruben Amorim contends that altering Manchester United's tactical system due to media pressure would have been "his demise" for him.

Initially against Newcastle United, Amorim abandoned his customary three-at-the-back formation with wing-backs and chose to field an standard back four shielded by two holding midfielders.

By his own admission this at times became a six-man defensive block in the latter minutes as his team dug in for a win - securing just their second clean sheet of the season.

Despite he once famously remarked that even the Pope could pressure him to change his approach, Amorim asserts the capacity to play with alternative setups has always been part of his plan.

Nevertheless, he clarifies he could solely implement the change when his team were doing sufficiently well - otherwise it would seem as if he was giving in to external criticism.

"When I arrived here last season, I recognized maybe I lacked the personnel to play well in that formation, but it was the beginning of a journey," he said.

"We were trying to establish an style. Now is a separate time. We don't have a full complement of personnel, and we have to adjust, so they comprehend the reason we are making changes.

"It is not because of the pressure of the media, or the fans.

"When the press discuss altering the system constantly, I cannot make a change because the squad will think I'm altering things because of external voices and I believe that is the end for the coach.

"Once we are playing well in our system, that is the opportunity to adapt.

"This will help us develop into a better side because when our full complement of players are back, we are not going to employ three defenders in every match."

Injury Challenges Continue

Having just two victories in their last eight outings before defeating Newcastle, it is questionable whether Amorim is right to claim his side have been playing well.

He is, though, operating with a injury-ravaged squad, with seven first-team players already confirmed absent for the forthcoming fixture against struggling Wolves.

That total will increase if playmaker Mason Mount is unable to shake off the injury that forced his exit from the Newcastle game at the interval.

Captain Bruno Fernandes is one of those who will miss the Wolves match, despite the fact he is understood to be pressing his boss to allow him to make a comeback following his muscle injury.

"Fernandes is already insisting he needs to train," said Amorim. "But there is no chance he is going to feature against Wolves. No way. You can quote me on that."

The Captain's Leadership Remains

However, the 31-year-old will almost certainly still be a prominent presence, as while most injured players watch matches from a private box, Fernandes was observed keeping a close eye on the pre-match routines from the entrance of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.

Amorim expects his captain to continue providing input.

"The guy is a leader," he affirmed. "He cannot be that guy that when he is not playing, he's not talking and offering advice. He's always vocal. That is the reason he's the captain.

"He has negative aspects sometimes - his mannerisms he gesticulates - but he has a lot of positive qualities. After he recovers, he heads to watch the rest of the squad practicing. There are a lot of aspects you don't see.

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

Return Timeline for Injured Players

While the specific timeline for Fernandes' comeback - and that of fellow injured stars like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - is unclear, before the conclusion of January, United will see the return of Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from continental duty.