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The former manager's tenure at Manchester United has been labeled a major disappointment. Looking at the numbers, his performance is remarkable for all the negative factors. During the contemporary football age, not a single Man Utd boss has recorded a lower points average, or managed a final position as low as the 15th spot. Delving further back, you have to go back to the manager Frank O'Farrell in 1972 to find a United boss who lost a larger share of games. Furthermore, he notoriously etched his name in club lore by enduring a loss in a final to Spurs, specifically Postecoglou's version of Spurs.

Life, though, is not often so straightforward. Regardless of the criticism of his tactical approach, Amorim exits a team in a far better condition than that which he found. In a prior match this term, following a victory over Brighton & Hove Albion, Danny Welbeck relayed that fellow players were lauding United as the finest opposition they had played against in some time. The football in a breathtaking 4-4 draw with Bournemouth was both promising and exciting.

While it is hard to argue against the decision to sack him—especially given it was reportedly triggered by his criticism of bosses with more miserable track records—his demise was finally hindered by awful luck. If the absence of key players not occurred alongside the absence of other pivotal individuals, he may still be in the job—maybe thriving.

Fresh Start for United

Consequently, Fletcher steps into a reasonably positive situation. Key players like Mount, Fernandes, and Mainoo are now fit, while Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo will in the near future return from the Afcon. Merely careful husbandry of this gifted squad is expected to be enough to ensure a fifth-place finish and, with it, European competition for next season—most likely in the coveted Champions League.

Burnley's Formidable Task

Burnley, but, won't make things easy. Although having only a dozen points and having lost three of their last five matches, their showings have at times been better than the results indicate. Manager Scott Parker will surely have his side pumped up to take the game to United who are likely to field an lineup that has not had time to gel, set up in a formation they have gone without for over a year.

Match begins: 8.15pm GMT.