Ruben Amorim has been given the green light to audition a Manchester United player for a new role

For the very first time in the Ruben Amorim era, Bruno Fernandes will be absent from the Manchester United matchday squad for the visit of Newcastle United on Monday evening.

The United captain was sent-off for the third time this season in the 2-0 defeat to Wolves at Molineux on Boxing Day for earning two yellow cards. He was given his marching orders just two minutes after half-time for a needless foul on fellow countryman Nelson Semedo.

For all of Amorim's tinkering and rotating since he replaced Erik ten Hag at the start of November, Fernandes has been an ever-present figure, starting each of the former Sporting Lisbon chief's first ten games in charge. No other player in the squad has been afforded that honour.

Despite scoring the goal that inspired the derby day comeback against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium and claiming two assists in the 4-0 rout of Everton, Fernandes' form has been up and down since Amorim arrived, just as it has all season.

As brilliant a player as he is when he is on song, United are unlikely to miss him as much as they have done on previous occasions when he has been unavailable. Nevertheless, his absence opens up a window of opportunity.

Fernandes, under Amorim, has either played as one of the two No.10s or as one of the two No.8s. He started in one of the No.10 positions at Wolves, assisting Rasmus Hojlund and Amad in attack.

The 30-year-old's absence against Newcastle is likely to see a like-for-like change made in the front-three. However, Amorim is not exactly blessed when it comes to settling on a replacement.

Marcus Rashford has been left out of each of the last four matchday squads, meaning a recall against Eddie Howe's team is highly unlikely, and Mason Mount is once again