Manchester United predicted line-up vs Ipswich Town as Ruben Amorim makes key calls

Manchester United visit Ipswich Town this afternoon in Ruben Amorim's first game in charge.

The contest is much anticipated given Amorim's arrival with the 39-year-old having been impressive in his media dealings in the early stages of his Old Trafford tenure. But it is on the pitch where things really count and the Portuguese would love to get off to a winning start against struggling Ipswich.

United are 12th in the Premier League table and a win in East Anglia will push them into the top half and be step one on what Amroim will hope is a journey towards the top four. He is expected to implement a 3-4-3 formation but it's unlikely there will be wholesale change given the limited time manager and squad have had together on the training pitch over the international break.

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Andre Onana is certain to start in goal with the Cameroon international among one of United's better performers so far this season.

If Amorim opts for a back three then Lisandro Martinez, assuming he shakes off the knock that forced him to pull out of the Argentina squad, will start on the left of a back three and Mathijs De Ligt in the middle. The third spot is a little more debatable with Harry Maguire a doubt through injury and Leny Yoro - the long term heir to the position - only just returning. It would be a gamble to hand the teenager a debut so Johnny Evans could get the nod.

It's a similar story in midfield with Kobbie Mainoo only just fit and Casemiro having played well in recent matches. The Brazilian, who was not away on international duty, may well keep his place with Mainoo waiting in the wings. Manuel Ugarte, who travelled to South America with Uruguay, should start having been an Amorim favourite during their time together at Sporting Lisbon and knowing the system.

Either side of that pair will be the wing backs that are crucial to Amorim's set-up. There is an opportunity to convert Amad but Noussair Mazraoui has been consistent so far this term while an advanced position might actually suit Diogo Dalot on the opposite side. The game seems likely to be too early to throw Luke Shaw or Tyrell Malacia back into a starting XI.

The front three under Amorim is generally two inside number 10s behind a lone striker. Bruno Fernandes is a certainty but the remaining spots are up for grabs. Mason Mount may have eyes on one given his success in a similar role at Chelsea under Thomas Tuchel while natural wide players Amad and Alejandro Garnacho will also be vying for a place. It may be the former gets the nod given his fine recent displays and the fact that Garnacho has been away with Argentina and so was one of the later players back at Carrington.

Marcus Rashford could feasibly play as an inside forward but he may well be handed the central striker role given Rasmus Hojlund's struggles in front of goal while Joshua Zirkee has yet to show he can be a scoring solution and may even seek to play in a deeper role given his self proclaimed nine-and-a-half positional preference.

Predicted United XI: Onana, De Ligt, Evans, Martinez; Mazraoui, Casemiro, Ugarte, Dalot; Amad, Fernandes, Rashford