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The former manager's tenure at the Red Devils is considered by many to have been a significant failure. Looking at the numbers, his record stands out for all the poor causes. Throughout the contemporary football age, no United manager has achieved a lower points average, or achieved a standing as low as 15th place. Delving further back, you have to return to the manager Frank O'Farrell in the early seventies to find a United boss who lost a higher percentage of matches. Furthermore, he famously etched his name in club lore by enduring a loss in a final to Spurs, namely Postecoglou's side of Spurs.

The game, though, is rarely so straightforward. In spite of the criticism of his 3-4-2-1 formation, Amorim departs from a team in a far better state than that which he inherited. Earlier this season, following a win against Brighton & Hove Albion, Danny Welbeck relayed that fellow players were lauding United as the best team they had encountered in some time. The football in a breathtaking high-scoring tie with Bournemouth was both encouraging and exciting.

While it is hard to dispute the dismissal—particularly given it was reportedly caused by his criticism of bosses with poorer histories—Amorim's downfall was finally stymied by atrocious fortune. If injuries to key personnel not occurred alongside the absence of other essential figures, he could still be in the role—possibly thriving.

A New Era Begins

Consequently, the interim boss Fletcher steps into a reasonably stable situation. Star players like Mount, Bruno Fernandes, and Kobbie Mainoo are back to fitness, while Amad Diallo and Mbeumo will soon rejoin from the African tournament. Merely careful husbandry of this skilled group is expected to be sufficient to ensure a finish in the European spots and, with it, continental competition for the coming campaign—in all likelihood in the prestigious Champions League.

The Clarets' Tough Test

Burnley, however, are unlikely to be a pushover. Although boasting only a dozen points and having lost three of their last five outings, their displays have often been better than the scorelines indicate. Manager Parker will certainly have his side pumped up to get after opponents who are likely to field an XI that has never played together, set up in a setup they have gone without for over a year.

Start time: 8.15pm GMT.