Key Highlights
- His Manchester United team put in a creditable performance against Aston Villa on Sunday, but still lost 2-1.
- More concerning, perhaps, was that the afternoon ended with two 18-year-old debutants -- Jack Fletcher and Shea Lacey -- on the pitch at Villa Park and defender Lisandro Martínez pressed into action as a midfielder. Captain Bruno Fernandes, who barely ever misses a game, watched the second half from the bench nursing a hamstring injury.
- Throw in the Africa Cup of Nations absences of Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui, plus ongoing injury issues with Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo, and Amorim is looking at a bleak winter.
- What kind of team he will be able to field against Newcastle at Old Trafford on Boxing Day is anyone's guess. There's a nicely decorated tree in club colours currently standing in the corner of reception at Carrington, but it would be no surprise if there was a dearth of Christmas cheer at United's training ground this week."During this year, especially at this time, we have so many problems, but we have to cope with that," said Amorim.
- "We need to prepare all the guys that we have for the next game.