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Ruben Amorim's tenure at the Red Devils is considered by many to have been a notable disappointment. By any measure, his record is notable for all the wrong factors. During the modern top-flight period, no United manager has achieved a lower points average, nor achieved a standing as poor as 15th place. Delving further back, you have to go back to the manager Frank O'Farrell in the early seventies to find a manager at the club who lost a higher percentage of fixtures. Moreover, he notoriously secured a place in United's annals by suffering a loss in a final to Spurs, specifically the current side of Spurs.

Life, however, is seldom so black and white. In spite of the scrutiny of his favored system, the Portuguese manager leaves behind a club in a much stronger condition than that which he found. Earlier this season, following a victory over Brighton, Welbeck reported that teammates were lauding United as the best opposition they had encountered in some time. The performance in a exhilarating high-scoring tie with Bournemouth was equally encouraging and thrilling.

While it is hard to dispute the dismissal—especially given it was allegedly sparked by his criticism of superiors with poorer track records—his demise was in the end stymied by awful luck. Had injuries to key stars not occurred alongside the absence of other essential figures, he may remain in the role—possibly succeeding.

A New Era Begins

Therefore, Darren Fletcher inherits a relatively stable scenario. Star figures like Mason Mount, Bruno Fernandes, and Kobbie Mainoo are back to fitness, while Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo will in the near future rejoin from the African tournament. Merely prudent stewardship of this gifted roster is expected to be sufficient to guarantee a fifth-place finish and, with it, European football for next season—in all likelihood in the coveted European Cup.

The Clarets' Daunting Test

Vincent Kompany's team, though, won't make things easy. Even with boasting only 12 points and having lost three of their last five games, their showings have at times been stronger than the scorelines show. Head coach Parker will undoubtedly have his team revved up to attack opponents who are set to start an lineup that has not had time to gel, deployed in a setup they have been denied for a year or more.

Match begins: 8.15pm GMT.