Suspended for Portugal’s final game of their UEFA Nations League campaign on Monday night, Ruben Amorim must have welcomed Roberto Martinez’s decision to release Bruno Fernandes from international duty early.
The Manchester United captain earned his second yellow card of the campaign in Portugal’s 5-1 win over Poland on Friday night as they secured their position at the top of Group A1 with a game to spare, ruling him out of the trip to Croatia. As a result of clinching top spot, Portugal boss Martinez made the decision to release a handful of players from his squad early, no doubt to the delight of their respective clubs.
Martinez’s decision has means Fernandes is set for more time on the training ground ahead of Sunday’s trip to Ipswich Town. The trip to Portman Road will mark the beginning of a new era at United, with new head coach Amorim taking charge for the very first time.
READ MORE: United get Kobbie Mainoo boost ahead of Ipswich clash
READ MORE: Staying in a hotel and shaping a new era – Inside Ruben Amorim’s United
The recent arrival of the 39-year-old has given everyone associated with United a much-needed lift, not least the supporters, who are eager to see how the former Sporting Lisbon boss will take the club forward. Although Amorim refused to get bogged down in the topic of formations during his first interview as United boss, the expectation is that he will unleash a new-look 3-4-3 system from the off. It was the bedrock of much of his success at Sporting.
The prospect of United starting with a brand-new shape at Portman Road is attracting plenty of intrigue ahead of Amorim’s debut in the dugout. Under Erik ten Hag, United very rarely lined up in anything other than a 4-3-3.
The switch to a system featuring wing-backs means Fernandes is expected to be dragged out of midfield and operate in the front-three. The general expectation is that he will start in an inverted wide role. The prospect of Amorim making that decision will represent a complete contrast to the role Fernandes envisions making his own in years to come. So often reliable wherever he plays, Fernandes earlier this year admitted that he expects to become a No.6 as his career continues to evolve.
“I have played, however, especially last season with coach Ten Hag, deeper,” said Fernandes, speaking in March. “In fact, against Everton, I played No.6 and I still think it was one of the most complete games I’ve played, at all levels.
“In terms of passing, game organisation, defence, tactics. I have a little thought in my head that I’m going to end my career further back, because everyone who started there and went to No.10 ended up retreating on the field at the end.
“It’s a position I like, playing deeper, facing the game more. With the ball, it makes my game a lot easier because I have a broader view of the game and it is ideal for what we’ve talked about with the last pass, which can sometimes come from deeper on the pitch.
“The game with Everton was the one in which I created the most scoring opportunities, even though I was playing deeper and not playing as a No.10.”
Regarded as United’s most creative midfielder, there is little chance of Fernandes occupying one of the two natural midfield roles in Amorim’s preferred formation. They are likely to be reserved by Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo, who are more defensively astute than Fernandes.
Fernandes never shirked away from the challenge of occasionally being deployed out wide under Ten Hag, often excelling because of his versatility and excellent tactical awareness. With United’s width under Amorim expected to be supplied by the wing-backs, Fernandes’ ‘wide role’ could actually be very subtle.
