A combination of the number of players leaving for international duty this week, and some of the uncapped players having time off, means it will largely be the ones who are injured that Amorim will see first when he reports for the service at United’s Carrington. training complex.
It means that the fact that United needs a couple of days to get your work visa is not a huge inconvenience.
It also allows the club to tie up all the loose ends around Amorim’s coaching team, with interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy stating after the Leicester game that he hopes to hear on Sunday or Monday whether he and the rest of Ten Hag’s squad will be The dismissal of the Dutchman last month will remain.
When it comes time to evaluate this latest performance, Fernandes’ efforts aside, Amorim will look at a largely solid defensive performance, which secured his first Premier League clean sheet in over a month, a decent first half from Amad Diallo and a goal. Alejandro Garnacho’s second half, although the Argentine was too fed up with the criticism for his recent performances to celebrate.
Manuel Ugarte and Casemiro were decent in midfield without being spectacular against a Leicester side whose coach, Steve Cooper, admitted he had not been good enough in both areas.
And United won. Depending on how you decide to evaluate the Premier League table, Amorim arrives with United in 13th place, well below expectations, or just four points away from a Champions League place, for which fifth place could be be enough.
BBC Sport asked Van Nistelrooy after the game if United’s current team could excel under Amorim’s new style.
His response did not completely fill anyone with confidence.
“That’s a very good question,” he said. “When I started at the beginning of this four-game period, I decided to continue playing at 85% with what the players are used to and just make small adjustments by changing players or resting players to try to regain confidence. We were looking for results and we got four.
“But there is a lot to analyze about the full-backs and inside forwards. “I can’t comment on that.”
Presumably, if Van Nistelrooy had full confidence in the flexibility of the players he has been working with since the start of the season, he would have come up with a simple ‘yes’.
And the secondary but very important point is that the chances of Amorim doing any meaningful work in training camp will be virtually non-existent.
If United advance in the EFL Cup, he may have a midweek break in his first three months in charge. Amorim is well aware of this and that is why he is downplaying the expectations that rose so dramatically following Sporting’s defeat of Manchester City last week.
Amorim will need to find a trio of defenders to fit his back three, knowing that his fastest option, Leny Yoro, is among those returning from injury. Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui will presumably fill the full-back spots, with Ugarte, Casemiro and Christian Eriksen in midfield, at least until Kobbie Mainoo becomes available again.
But Fernandes is the crucial element.
Portugal’s second Nations League match will not take place until Monday 18 November, further limiting the new manager’s time with the Fernandes ahead of the Premier League trip to Ipswich on 24 November.
Van Nistelrooy has stabilized the situation at Old Trafford. But if United want to move forward with Amorim, they need to find the best way to get the most out of Fernandes as the captain returns to fitness.
