Ruben Amorim names first Man Utd XI as new boss springs selection surprise and Luke Shaw back on bench
RUBEN AMORIM'S debut Manchester United XI saw him ditch Erik ten Hag's four-defender system.
The Portuguese boss named his first-ever Red Devils side for this afternoon's Premier League clash at Ipswich.
And United fans were eager to see if Amorim would adopt his famed 3-4-3 formation from Sporting Lisbon.
He led the club to two league titles with the versatile shape.
And on his United bow, Amorim stuck with his tried-and-tested formula
The gaffer named just two centre-backs in his side, with Matthijs de Ligt and Jonny Evans.
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But he made it a back three by using Noussair Mazraoui on the right, with Diogo Dalot more advanced at left wing-back.
Amad Diallo was then chosen at right wing-back, with Casemiro and Christian Eriksen in midfield.
Further forward, Bruno Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho were selected as supporting attackers.
While Marcus Rashford was deployed through the middle as United's central striker.
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Amorim also opted to select a strong bench, with left-backs Tyrell Malacia and Luke Shaw both deemed fit after their long-term injuries.
Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount and Manuel Ugarte made for impressive midfield options.
While the forward line consisted of Antony, Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee.
But there was no sign of 16-year-old defender Goodwill Kukonki, who travelled with the squad but did not make the bench.
Speaking earlier in the week, Amorim warned fans that he was unlikely to stray far from Ten Hag's previous team.
He said: "As a coach you have to choose one way or another, I choose always 100 percent our way. I choose to risk a bit.
"I believe so much in our way of playing, they will believe too. There is no second way. We will adapt some players because we don’t have a different profile.
"Maybe on Sunday you will see the starting 11 and not feel a lot of change but you will see it in the game and the positioning or where they receive the ball."
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United XI to face Ipswich: Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Evans; Amad, Casemiro, Eriksen, Dalot; Fernandes, Rashford, Garnacho
Bench: Bayindir, Malacia, Shaw, Mainoo, Mount, Ugarte, Antony, Hojlund, Zirkzee