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Ruben Amorim's spell at Manchester United was widely regarded as a significant letdown. Looking at the numbers, his record stands out for all the negative causes. Throughout the contemporary football age, no boss at the club has managed fewer points per game, nor managed a league finish as poor as 15th in the table. Delving further back, you have to go back to the manager Frank O'Farrell in 1972 to find a United boss who was defeated in a greater proportion of fixtures. Moreover, he famously carved a niche in the team's history by enduring a cup final defeat to Tottenham, particularly Ange Postecoglou's version of Tottenham.

The game, however, is not often so black and white. In spite of the criticism of his 3-4-2-1 formation, Amorim departs from a team in a significantly improved position than the one he found. Earlier this season, following a defeat of Brighton, the striker Welbeck reported that fellow players were hailing United as the finest team they had faced in some time. Their play in a exhilarating high-scoring tie with AFC Bournemouth was both hopeful and exhilarating.

While it is tough to contest the termination—particularly given it was said to be caused by his remarks regarding superiors with poorer histories—Amorim's demise was finally hampered by terrible luck. If the absence of crucial stars not coincided with the unavailability of other pivotal figures, he might remain in the role—maybe succeeding.

Fresh Start for United

Therefore, Fletcher inherits a fairly solid situation. Star figures like Mason Mount, Bruno Fernandes, and Kobbie Mainoo are back to fitness, while Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo will shortly be back from the Africa Cup of Nations. Just prudent management of this gifted roster is expected to be adequate to ensure a top-five finish and, with it, continental competition for the following term—probably in the prestigious European Cup.

Burnley's Daunting Challenge

Burnley, however, are unlikely to make things easy. Although boasting only a dozen points and suffering defeats in three of their previous five games, their displays have at times been stronger than the scorelines suggest. Head coach Parker will undoubtedly have his team revved up to get after the visitors who are expected to field an lineup that has never played together, arranged in a system they have gone without for over a year.

Kick-off: 20:15 GMT.