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Amorim's time at the Red Devils is considered by many to have been a notable failure. Statistically speaking, his record is notable for all the negative causes. In the contemporary football age, not a single Man Utd boss has managed a worse points return, or achieved a league finish as low as 15th place. Delving further back, you have to go back to Frank O'Farrell in 1972 to find a manager at the club who was defeated in a higher percentage of games. Furthermore, he infamously secured a place in the team's history by suffering a loss in a final to Spurs, particularly the current version of Spurs.

The game, but, is not often that simple. Regardless of the negative press of his tactical approach, the Portuguese manager leaves behind a team in a far better condition than the one he found. In a prior match this term, following a win against Brighton & Hove Albion, Danny Welbeck relayed that teammates were hailing United as the best opposition they had faced in some time. The play in a thrilling 4-4 draw with Bournemouth was equally encouraging and exciting.

Even though it is hard to argue against the dismissal—particularly given it was allegedly sparked by his remarks regarding bosses with poorer track records—his demise was ultimately hampered by awful fortune. If fitness issues for crucial players not coincided with the loss of other essential individuals, he could still be in the role—maybe thriving.

Fresh Start for United

Therefore, Fletcher inherits a reasonably solid state of affairs. Important players like Mount, Fernandes, and 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 talented roster ought to be adequate to guarantee a fifth-place finish and, with it, continental competition for the following term—probably in the elite Champions League.

The Clarets' Daunting Test

The home side, but, will not be a pushover. Even with having only 12 points and suffering defeats in 3 of their previous five outings, their displays have at times been stronger than the outcomes show. Head coach Scott Parker will undoubtedly have his squad fired up to take the game to United who are set to field an starting eleven that has not had time to gel, deployed in a setup they have not used for more than a year.

Start time: 8.15pm GMT.