A back three can work for Ruben Amorim - it has for three other Manchester United managers

Darren Fletcher's days may be numbered at United with their inaugural head coach due to touch down on the Manchester Airport tarmac next week. Fletcher could still offer Ruben Amorim some unique insight, for he has started in a United back three.

It did not go well. Fletcher, Michael Carrick and Ritchie de Laet were pitted against Fulham six days before Christmas in 2009. United were battered 3-0 and their supporters left the Putney Road End feeling about as festive as Ebenezer Scrooge.

The previous week, United had switched to a defensive trident for their Champions League dead-rubber against Wolfsburg and freakishly prevailed 3-1, with Michael Owen poaching a clinical hat-trick. At Craven Cottage, some of United's defending was craven.

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One had little time for Erik ten Hag's complaints about United's depleted defence last season when they had it much worse 15 years ago. Edwin van der Sar, Gary Neville, Rafael da Silva, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Jonny Evans, Wes Brown and John O'Shea were all absent at Fulham.

Between the Wolfsburg and Fulham fixtures, United lost to Aston Villa and beat Wolves with Vidic back, only he suffered a calf injury against the latter, so Ferguson reverted to three centre halves. De Laet made his sixth appearance at Fulham, where Bobby Zamora gave him a going over.

"It's difficult to play midfielders at centre back and Ritchie de Laet is only 21 years of age," Ferguson said. "He's not got the experience yet needed for these type of matches." De Laet never played for United again.

There was a potential workaround to avoid a back three: start Fabio da