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Ruben Amorim's tenure at Old Trafford was widely regarded as a notable disappointment. Looking at the numbers, his results is notable for all the negative causes. In the contemporary football age, no United manager has recorded a worse points return, nor achieved a final position as poor as 15th in the table. Delving further back, you have to revisit the manager Frank O'Farrell in 1972 to find a United boss who lost a greater proportion of fixtures. Additionally, he notoriously carved a niche in the team's history by enduring a loss in a final to Spurs, particularly the current iteration of Spurs.

Life, though, is seldom so black and white. Regardless of the negative press of his tactical approach, he leaves behind a club in a far better position than that which he inherited. Earlier this season, following a victory over Brighton, Danny Welbeck relayed that his colleagues were praising their opponents as the best side they had encountered in a long time. The play in a exhilarating high-scoring tie with Bournemouth was equally promising and exciting.

While it is difficult to argue against the decision to sack him—particularly given it was reportedly caused by his remarks regarding superiors with more miserable track records—his demise was in the end stymied by atrocious luck. Had the absence of vital personnel not occurred alongside the loss of other pivotal members, he might still be in the job—perhaps thriving.

Fresh Start for United

As a result, Fletcher steps into a relatively positive state of affairs. Key players like Mount, Fernandes, and Kobbie Mainoo are available again, while Diallo and Mbeumo will soon rejoin from the Afcon. Simply sensible management of this gifted roster should be enough to ensure a finish in the European spots and, with it, continental competition for the following term—in all likelihood in the elite Champions League.

The Clarets' Daunting Test

Vincent Kompany's team, however, will not make things easy. Even with boasting only twelve points and suffering defeats in 3 of their last five games, their performances have often been more impressive than the results show. Head coach Parker will surely have his side fired up to take the game to opponents who are likely to start an XI that has never played together, arranged in a formation they have not used for more than a year.

Match begins: 8.15pm GMT.