The Portuguese faces two massive games after the international break and thus must make the right selection calls to get his team clicking
Ruben Amorim no doubt appreciated the arrival of the international break after a draining start to the season for Manchester United. From Carabao Cup embarrassment at Grimsby to frustrating results against Arsenal and Fulham, all followed by a stressful, last-gasp victory over Burnley, the Red Devils have been on a rollercoaster already in 2025-26, and we're only a month in.
But Amorim cannot exactly ease himself back into work. United resume their campaign with a daunting derby against Manchester City on Sunday, followed by another tricky fixture against Chelsea six days later ahead of – theoretically – more comfortable games against Brentford and Sunderland.
United's lack of European football and their early exit from the League Cup means that Amorim will have more time to prepare his players on the training ground and to properly assess how to finally get his team to click into gear. There are, however, some clear changes he should be considering as United look to kick-start their season…
Getty/GOALSend for Sesko
Many United fans have been baffled by the fact that their biggest signing of the summer, Benjamin Sesko, has not started any of their three Premier League games so far. There can be no excuse, however, for not unleashing the £74-million ($100m) man on their 'noisy neighbours' City.
Sesko has looked a little out of place in his three substitute appearances thus far, while when he started at Grimsby he also struggled before cramps led to him being the team's 10th penalty-taker in the shootout. Amorim later explained that Sesko was benched against Burnley due to his lack of fitness after missing the pre-season follwing his late arrival from RB Leipzig, but the Slovenia striker should be fully up to speed now after completing 90 minutes for his country against both Sweden and Switzerland, with there still five days for him to recover in time for the derby.
Sesko's pace and power can help United wear down a mentally fragile City side and bring the best out of Bryan Mbeumo and Bruno Fernandes. And to put it bluntly, if Amorim does not think Sesko is worthy of starting against their local rivals, then why on earth did the club sign him?
AdvertisementGetty Images SportBlessing in disguise?
A spot has opened up in the United attack for Sesko to take following the injury suffered by Matheus Cunha during the first half of the Burnley game. Losing the ex-Wolves forward was a huge blow for United given his performances so far this season, and yet it could prove to be a blessing in disguise as it means Bruno Fernandes may be able to return to his best position in attack.
The United captain rediscovered his goal-scoring touch last season when deployed higher up the pitch, and Amorim later admitted "we missed Bruno near the box" when Fernandes was asked to play a controlling role deeper in midfield, such as in the dismal Europa League final defeat to Tottenham.
Getty ImagesMore goals and assists beckon
The arrivals of Cunha and Mbeumo, as well as Amorim's new-found trust in Mason Mount, has meant that there has been no natural spot in attack for Fernandes within Amorim's rigid 3-4-2-1 formation, and so he has played at the base of the midfield in the three league matches so far.
Cunha being missing for the derby, as well as the likely absence of Mount after he also picked up an injury against Burnley, means that Fernandes is the obvious choice to partner Mbeumo in attacking midfield behind Sesko. That should give the skipper a chance to get back among the goals and assists after a quiet start to the campaign.
Getty ImagesThrow Lammens in at the deep end
Andre Onana's loan departure for Trabzonspor may have rid United of one of their worst signings of all time, but there are big question marks about the three goalkeepers they have left. Altay Bayindir has been to blame for two of the four league goals United have conceded so far this term, Tom Heaton has not played a competitive game for two-and-a-half years while Sanne Lammens has only just arrived from Belgium with no experience of English football.
There are risks associated with playing each of the three shot-stoppers, and there is an argument that Heaton should play against City to guard against the possibility of Lammens' confidence being destroyed by a derby defeat in his very first match. Equally, not starting the 23-year-old would not send out the right message after United opted to sign him from Royal Antwerp as a long-term bet while turning their back on the more experienced Emiliano Martinez.
There are doubts surrounding Lammens given he is yet to be called up to the Belgium senior squad and has only one full season of top-flight football under his belt. But given that United see him as their long-term No. 1, they need to give him all their confidence and that means throwing him in at the deep end, on enemy territory on derby day.