Ruben Amorim's £16m Manchester United challenge has suddenly got a little bit easier

Ruben Amorim has refused to shy away from the size of the challenge that lies ahead of him at Manchester United.

"I feel ready for the new challenge," the new United head coach said on Sunday, hosting his final press conference as Sporting Lisbon boss. "I'm not naive, I know it's going to be very different, very difficult."

Less than 24 hours later, Amorim touched down in Manchester, was chauffeur-driven to Carrington and greeted by United chief executive Omar Berrada, sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox. It was at that moment the Amorim era began.

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Still waiting to obtain a work permit that will allow him to conduct training sessions, Amorim is now a little over a week away from taking charge of United for the very first time.

His first challenge is to try and get the better of Ipswich Town, who secured their first Premier League win in 22 years last time out, at Portman Road on the other side of this current international break.

That battle will be part of the war United are going to have to try and win to secure a top four finish this season, and with it Champions League qualification for 2025/26. The club is currently 13th in the Premier League table, but only four points shy of third-placed Chelsea.

When Erik ten Hag was sacked on October 28, less than 24 hours after a controversial 2-1 defeat to West Ham United, United were 14th in the standings, had 11 points and were seven points short of the top four.

As a result of earning four points from two league games under former interim boss Ruud van