Ruben Amorim has to make some tough decisions ahead of his first match as Manchester United manager at Ipswich Town on Sunday.
The Red Devils are likely to adopt Amorim’s preferred 3-4-3 formation, a significant shift from the 4-2-3-1 system they were accustomed to under former boss Erik ten Hag. The new gaffer’s preparations for the clash at Portman Road have been disrupted by players being away on international duty this week, with some only returning to United on Thursday.
Given these circumstances, Amorim has a conundrum regarding his starting XI for his debut game, with player fitness and availability throughout the week expected to play a crucial role. Manuel Ugarte, who previously played under Amorim at Sporting Lisbon and is anticipated to be a key figure in his plans, also started all four games under former interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy.
However, with Ugarte only returning from international duty on Thursday, having played the full 90 minutes in Uruguay’s 1-1 draw with Brazil on Tuesday, he may not be considered fit enough to start. It seems more probable that Amorim will opt for a midfield duo of Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo, both of whom trained all week, despite the latter not having played since an injury lay-off early last month.
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