Ruben Amorim is about to try something new at Manchester United

One of the best abilities a footballer can have is availability and that's something Bruno Fernandes has never had an issue with.

The Manchester United captain's conditioning can't be faulted and he is very rarely unavailable through injury. However, being unavailable due to suspension is another matter.

Having never been expelled in his career before this season, the Portugal international has been sent off three times in 2024/25 - granted one of those red cards was overturned on appeal.

He will miss the clash with Newcastle on Monday night after being shown a second yellow card in the defeat at Molineux on Boxing Day, and his absence means Ruben Amorim will have to do some tinkering.

The Portuguese coach recently admitted he was close to settling on his best starting XI but at least one change will be needed for the visit of Newcastle given Fernandes' suspension. Fernandes has started every game since Amorim's arrival and so the United head coach has some thinking to do.

Fernandes has started in the front three in six of Amorim's opening 10 games as boss - including all of the previous three games - playing a slightly deeper midfield role in the other four matches.

When Fernandes has played in midfield, Amorim has used three different front threes, but he won't be able to rely on one of said combinations on Monday.

Rasmus Hojlund, Alejandro Garnacho and Mason Mount started against Arsenal and Bodo/Glimt, though Mount's injury means that trio will not be seen on Monday. The same goes for the front three that started against Manchester City: Mount, Hojlund and Amad.

The only remaining option Amorim has tried before that he could have turned to was the front three that started against Viktoria Plzen. Joshua Zirkzee, Amad