Erik ten Hag complaint has already told Ruben Amorim his first Manchester United challenge

By this point, you would be forgiven for being sick and tired of international breaks.

Just three months into the 2024/25 season, Manchester United's campaign has been paused for the third time, paving the way for national teams to tick off the final round of Nations League fixtures and another set of World Cup qualifiers.

As much as a hindrance as they may seem, you will probably be pleased to know this current pause marks the last one until mid-March.

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However, for clubs, players and managers, it signals the final opportunity to breathe ahead of a relentless period. Including the FA Cup third round, for which United's fixture is yet to be decided, the Reds will play at least 24 times before the next international break.

The Premier League's winter break has been removed from the calendar this season, meaning the demands are going to be even more strenuous and testing. The only rest United might earn between next weekend and March is if they exit the FA Cup prematurely.

However, the appointment of new head coach Ruben Amorim means United's supporters will no doubt be keen to soak up as many opportunities as possible to watch their team in the coming weeks. The arrival of the 39-year-old at Old Trafford has generated a feeling of excitement.

Amorim will take charge of United for the first time on November 24, travelling to Portman Road to face Ipswich Town. That will mark the first of 11 games the Reds must navigate in the space of just 37 days before the end of this calendar year.

That in itself immediately highlights the demands that Amorim and not least his players are going to be put under in the coming weeks. United's December schedule features nine fixtures, featuring a trip to Arsenal, the Manchester derby and a Carabao Cup quarter-final against Tottenham Hotspur less than a week before Christmas.

The festive schedule, just as it does every year, brings its own unique challenges; United will play five times in the space of 18 days between December 19 and January 5.

Two of Amorim's first 11 games at the helm will be in the Europa League - a clash with Bodo/Glimt at Old Trafford on November 28 and a trip to the Czech Republic to face Viktoria Plzen on December 12. Those two fixtures would have previously completed United's fixture list as far as the first stage of the Europa League is concerned, with those aforementioned games set to take United's tally of European matches this term to six.

However, UEFA expanded the Europa League ahead of this season, meaning each club must play eight matches in the first phase of the competition. United will play Rangers and FCSB in January.

The increase in the number of fixtures was a decision that Amorim's predecessor, Erik ten Hag, took exception to in September, slamming the decision to increase the number of games being added to the calendar.

He said: "There are too many games - the top players are overloaded. It is not good for football. Maybe it is good for commercial (reasons).

"There is a limit and players are getting injuries. It is almost unavoidable because of the overload of so many games."

Amorim has inherited a squad that is not already without its fair share of injuries. A relentless December schedule, featuring nine games, risks pushing everyone to the squad to its maximum.

Particularly around Christmas, where games do come thick and fast, Amorim is highly likely going to be forced into rotating as much as he can to keep everyone fresh. However, it is a challenge that every coach will have to face.

United's December schedule also features five away games, including one European trip, meaning time on the training ground to implement plans is going to be limited.

A successful December will immediately add another string to Amorim's bow.