How will Man Utd line-up under Ruben Amorim? Incoming head coach hints he will stick to his guns with tactics at Old Trafford

The Portuguese coach, who has been appointed as successor to the ousted Erik ten Hag, is due to take charge at Old Trafford on November 11. Visa issues are delaying that process slightly, but the 39-year-old is raring to go whenever a green light is given.

With another international breaking having been reached, Amorim’s first game as United manager will come away at Ipswich on November 24. He has bid an emotional farewell to Sporting before heading to England.

Questions are already being asked of how the Red Devils will line up under their new boss, with Amorim suggesting that he will tinker slightly with United’s current system – as he moves to three at the back, rather than the two centre-halves approach that has been in place for some time.

He has said when quizzed on his plans: “I know how I am going to play in the beginning, because you have to start with a structure that you know. Then you will adapt with the players that you have, some injuries, or no injuries, what kind of players have the abilities to defend, attack, I will discover that in the next few weeks. We don’t have a lot of time to train, so I have to show something that I know very well. You can take whatever you want from that.”

Amorim’s blueprint for success served him well at Sporting, as he collected two Portuguese titles in Lisbon. United have shown signs of improvement over recent weeks – with interim coach Ruud van Nistelrooy overseeing a four-game unbeaten run – but it remains to be seen how they react to a change in formation.