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Ruben Amorim's spell at Manchester United was widely regarded as a notable letdown. Looking at the numbers, his results is remarkable for all the negative reasons. During the modern top-flight period, no United manager has recorded a lower points average, or achieved a league finish as poor as 15th place. Delving further back, you have to go back to Frank O'Farrell in the early seventies to find a manager at the club who was defeated in a greater proportion of games. Moreover, he notoriously etched his name in United's annals by enduring a loss in a final to Tottenham, specifically Ange Postecoglou's iteration of Spurs.

Life, however, is not often so straightforward. In spite of the negative press of his 3-4-2-1 formation, the Portuguese manager leaves behind a club in a much stronger position than the one he inherited. Earlier this season, following a victory over Brighton & Hove Albion, Danny Welbeck shared that fellow players were hailing their opponents as the most impressive opposition they had played against in some time. Their play in a breathtaking 4-4 draw with Bournemouth was both promising and exhilarating.

While it is difficult to contest the decision to sack him—especially given it was allegedly sparked by his comments about executives with poorer records—Amorim's demise was finally hampered by atrocious fortune. Had injuries to key players not happened at the same time as the unavailability of other essential individuals, he might remain in the job—perhaps even.

Fletcher Takes the Reins

Consequently, Darren Fletcher inherits a reasonably positive state of affairs. Star figures like Mount, Bruno Fernandes, and Mainoo are now fit, while Diallo and Mbeumo will in the near future be back from the Afcon. Merely prudent management of this skilled squad should be adequate to secure a finish in the European spots and, with it, European competition for the following term—most likely in the elite Champions League.

The Clarets' Tough Test

Vincent Kompany's team, though, won't make things easy. Despite having only a dozen points and having lost three of their previous five games, their showings have frequently been better than the scorelines indicate. Manager Scott Parker will undoubtedly have his squad pumped up to get after opponents who are likely to start an lineup that has never played together, set up in a system they have been denied for over a year.

Kick-off: 20:15 GMT.