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Amorim's spell at Old Trafford is considered by many to have been a significant letdown. Looking at the numbers, his results stands out for all the wrong causes. During the contemporary football age, no boss at the club has managed fewer points per game, or secured a standing as poor as 15th in the table. Looking deeper into history, you have to go back to the manager Frank O'Farrell in the early seventies to find a manager at the club who was defeated in a greater proportion of fixtures. Moreover, he notoriously secured a place in United's annals by enduring a cup final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, namely Postecoglou's version of the North London club.

Football, though, is seldom that simple. Despite the scrutiny of his favored system, Amorim exits a team in a far better condition than that which he found. Earlier this season, following a win against Brighton & Hove Albion, Welbeck shared that his colleagues were praising United as the finest side they had faced in some time. The football in a thrilling high-scoring tie with Bournemouth was equally hopeful and thrilling.

While it is difficult to contest the dismissal—especially given it was said to be caused by his comments about superiors with more miserable histories—Amorim's demise was finally stymied by terrible luck. If the absence of crucial personnel not coincided with the absence of other pivotal individuals, he could still be in the job—maybe succeeding.

A New Era Begins

Consequently, Darren Fletcher steps into a fairly stable scenario. Key players like Mason Mount, Bruno Fernandes, and Mainoo are available again, while Diallo and Mbeumo will shortly be back from the Afcon. Simply careful stewardship of this skilled squad should be adequate to secure a top-five finish and, with it, European football for the coming campaign—in all likelihood in the prestigious UEFA Champions League.

The Clarets' Tough Test

Burnley, though, won't roll over. Although boasting only 12 points and suffering defeats in three of their previous five matches, their performances have at times been stronger than the scorelines suggest. Boss Scott Parker will undoubtedly have his squad fired up to take the game to the visitors who are set to field an starting eleven that has not had time to gel, set up in a system they have gone without for over a year.

Match begins: 20:15 GMT.