Ruben Amorim could be about to unleash a new Manchester United defence

Man United head coach Ruben Amorim could potentially mix up his side’s defensive line this week.

After completing the signing of Noussair Mazraoui from Bayern Munich in August, Manchester United sporting director Dan Ashworth was quick to commend the Moroccan’s versatility.

“Noussair is a dynamic, attacking full-back who can play on both the right and left side of defence,” Ashworth said. “His experience and versatility will make him an excellent addition to our squad.”

A little over three months after putting pen to paper on a four-year contract at Old Trafford, few could have possibly envisioned just how versatile he actually is. After playing as a right-back, a left-back and as an attacking-midfielder under former United manager Erik ten Hag, his successor, Ruben Amorim, deployed him as a right-sided centre-back for his first game in charge against Ipswich Town on Sunday afternoon.

Setting up with the 3-4-3 formation that had been religiously analysed ever since succeeding Ten Hag on November 1, the former Sporting Lisbon boss tasked Mazraoui with operating on the right side of the back-three. He was joined in the defence by Matthijs de Ligt and Jonny Evans.

Of that rearguard, only De Ligt will be considered as a staple in United’s first-choice backline once everyone is fit and available. The general expectation is that once Amorim has overseen a reduction in the size of the current injury list, De Ligt will be joined in defence by fellow summer signing Leny Yoro and Lisandro Martinez.

Yoro was not included in the matchday squad at Portman Road, with United continuing to monitor his recovery from a fractured metatarsal carefully, and Martinez missed out due to a back injury. With Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof also missing, Amorim had no choice but to make do with what he had available.