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Ruben Amorim's time at the Red Devils has been labeled a major disappointment. Statistically speaking, his record is notable for all the wrong reasons. During the contemporary football age, not a single Man Utd boss has achieved a worse points return, nor managed a league finish as low as the 15th spot. Delving further back, you have to revisit the manager Frank O'Farrell in the early seventies to find a manager at the club who was defeated in a larger share of matches. Moreover, he infamously secured a place in club lore by experiencing a final loss to Spurs, specifically Ange Postecoglou's side of Spurs.

Football, though, is seldom so straightforward. In spite of the negative press of his favored system, Amorim departs from a club in a much stronger condition than that which he found. Months ago, following a win against Brighton & Hove Albion, Welbeck relayed that teammates were lauding United as the most impressive team they had played against in some time. The performance in a breathtaking four-all stalemate with AFC Bournemouth was equally encouraging and exciting.

While it is difficult to contest the termination—especially given it was said to be caused by his criticism of bosses with even worse track records—his demise was finally stymied by awful luck. Had injuries to crucial personnel not occurred alongside the loss of other important members, he could remain in the job—perhaps thriving.

Fresh Start for United

As a result, Fletcher steps into a relatively stable scenario. Important figures like Mount, Bruno Fernandes, and Kobbie Mainoo are back to fitness, while Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo will in the near future rejoin from the Afcon. Just prudent management of this gifted squad should be enough to ensure a fifth-place finish and, with it, continental football for the coming campaign—probably in the coveted European Cup.

Burnley's Formidable Test

The home side, though, will not make things easy. Even with having only 12 points and suffering defeats in three of their last five matches, their displays have frequently been more impressive than the scorelines show. Boss Parker will surely have his squad pumped up to take the game to the visitors who are expected to start an lineup that has not had time to gel, deployed in a system they have gone without for more than a year.

Match begins: 20:15 GMT.