Alejandro Garnacho, at, wing,-back, a, new, role, for, Bruno Fernandes, but ,no, place, for, Marcus Rashford, or, Casemiro,: How, Man Utd, should ,line, up, in, Ruben Amorim’s, 3-4-3 formation in first game against Ipswich

United might have a centre-back shortage at the moment but the Dutchman is fully fit, playing 90 minutes for his country against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday. The former Ajax captain had a bit of a rough start to life in the Premier League but he has settled into the team recently and delivered much improved performances under Ruud van Nistelrooy, showing his power in the air and looking more assured in possession.

With Lisandro Martinez being sent home from the Argentina camp, Victor Lindelof getting injured with Sweden and Leny Yoro and Harry Maguire still getting back to full fitness, all signs point to the 36-year-old marshalling the defence in Amorim’s dugout debut. The veteran centre-back might not be the picture of renewal United are hoping for but he is the safe pair of hands the new coach needs in his first game in a new league. Evans can always be relied upon and he comes into his element at tricky Premier League grounds, producing a man-of-the-match display at Burnley last season and keeping Aston Villa at bay last month with an immaculate second-half performance from the bench.

The Morocco international has been one of United’s best players in recent weeks, starring against Chelsea and getting an assist against Leicester. He has played as both a right-back and a left-back, although he has impressed more in the latter role, inverting into midfield when United have possession. He could play as a wing-back, but his defensive attributes makes him better suited to playing on the left of the back three, where he can help out the left winger while also joining the midfield when appropriate.

The Portuguese defender has had a difficult start to the campaign, struggling at left-back in the first few games before switching to his more natural right side. The nadir was his atrocious open-goal miss at West Ham which led to the defeat and to Ten Hag finally being sacked. But having a compatriot in charge could be just what he needs and he seems well equipped to play in the right wing-back role, which requires a balance of attacking and defensive attributes.

Ugarte is the only player to have worked with Amorim before and he should slot straight into the starting XI as the team’s principal ball-winner. This is a role that Amorim takes very seriously: Joao Palhinha was one of the main pillars of his first title success with Sporting, then Ugarte mastered the role before passing the baton to Morten Hjulmand as he left for Paris Saint-Germain. Ugarte got few starting opportunities under Ten Hag and there was a feeling he was a club signing rather than a player the manager asked for. His signing, however, should prove to be an early gift for Amorim.

Mainoo is approaching the one year anniversary of his superb full debut for United against Everton and it would be fitting if he could make his comeback from six weeks out injured by starting against Ipswich. The England midfielder, who returned to full training and took part in Amorim’s first session on Monday, has remarkable technical ability and confidence on the ball, which makes him the ideal partner for Ugarte in Amorim’s engine room.

Garnacho was one of Ten Hag’s greatest success stories alongside Mainoo but his profile does not make him naturally suited to Amorim’s preference of having narrow wingers who operate as de facto No. 10s. He is too good to leave out of the team, however, and he should take up the role of left wing-back.

The Argentina international has the stamina to get up and down the pitch and has made big strides in his defensive work over the last year. Amorim has also been open to playing wingers in the position rather than full-backs: Maximiliano Araujo and Geovany Quenda were both wide forwards but took to the new role well. There is no reason why Garnacho, who is described as being “obsessed with football” by one former coach, could not thrive in Amorim’s new-look team.

United fans have been longing for Fernandes’ explosive attacking form from his first 18 months with the club and those heady days might be about to return. The Portuguese suffered when Cristiano Ronaldo returned to the club and was then asked to play in a variety of roles under Ten Hag, becoming more of an-all action player rather than the man responsible for the bulk of the team’s goals, as he was under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Fernandes seems born to play in Amorim’s system as a narrow forward and he has been warming up for the new coach’s arrival, racking up five goals and assists in his last five games for United and Portugal.

Amad is another player set for a new lease of life now that Ten Hag is gone. He was the star of the show in United’s otherwise dull win over PAOK and was also electric against Leicester. The Ivorian has always enjoyed playing further inside than out on the wing and should thrive in the second attacking midfielder spot behind the main striker, where he will be able to build on his own goal and assist accounts.

The Danish striker has not really lived up to his £72m ($90m) price tag and has often looked starved of service, wasting energy fighting with centre-backs rather than trying to help United’s build-up play. Amorim’s arrival should give him more freedom to operate across the attack and the coach’s use of Viktor Gyokeres, who has scored 23 goals for Sporting already and has just plundered five for Sweden in the UEFA Nations League, should give him great encouragement.