Garnacho proof, Gyokeres inspiration - what Ruben Amorim will want to see from Man United vs PAOK

Incoming boss Ruben Amorim will no doubt be taking in Manchester United's Europa League tie with PAOK tonight.

The 39-year-old officially starts work at Old Trafford on Monday and takes charge of Sporting Lisbon for the final this weekend with a trip to his former club Braga. He masterminded a 4-1 Champions League success over Manchester City in midweek with a performance that will have whetted the appetite of United supporters.

The Reds host Greek opposition tonight aiming for a first Europa League win of the season after opening their continental campaign with three straight draws. Ruud van Nistelrooy remains in interim charge and will also oversee the visit of Leicester City in the Premier League on Sunday before Amorim jets in.

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The Portuguese favours a 3-4-3 formation and his Sporting side showed their capabilities in midweek. He may well implement a similar shape and set-up at United but to do so he will need to see proof that the Reds have the squad to do it. Here's three things he'll be looking for tonight.

Work rate

A big trait of Amorim's side is the work rate of wide players. His 3-4-3 shape asks a lot of those out wide to provide protection at the back and the width and attacking intent going forward. It remains to be seen whether United's new boss views the likes of Diogo Dalot, Noussair Mazraoui and Luke Shaw as options in those positions or if the more attack minded players might be asked to refine their game.

It means Alejandro Garnacho could find himself in a new role under his new manager and while the 21-year-old has showed his qualities time and again since breaking into the side, the ear-bashing he copped from Casemiro during the draw against Chelsea last time out highlighted a need to track back with more purpose.

The Argentina international was sluggish in responding to a Chelsea counter after losing possession high up the pitch and the play ended with Casemiro committing a foul. The experienced Brazil international wasn't shy in letting his young team-mate know what he thought and Garnacho has the chance against PAOK to put into practice what Casemiro, and indeed Amorim, want to see.

Killer instinct

Viktor Gyokeres displayed it in spades on Tuesday night for Lisbon. His hat-trick may have included two penalties and he did waste an early chance, but the frontman looked a threat every time Sporting sprang forward. The Sweden international arrived from Coventry City with a promising reputation but he has raised his level significantly under Amorim and now has 66 goals in 67 starts for the Lisbon outfit.

Meanwhile, United have struggled to score this season. They have managed a paltry nine in 10 top flight games - the third lowest in the division - and it's a clear area where improvement is required. Much will come down to Rasmus Hojlund who remains the main man at United despite his relative lack of top level experience given summer signing Joshua Zirkee looks short of a goal threat. Hojlund showed his capabilities in patches last season and will hope to thrive under Amorim in a similar way to how Gyorkeres has improved in Portugal. Hojlund certainly has the potential, but understandably given his age he still looks short of the natural, killer goalscorer United would love, even if his interim boss believes it will come.

"Stay calm and believe in himself, believe in his qualities like I do, like his teammates do," Van Nistelrooy said. "He knows he’s young, he’s promising, it’s daily work which he’s putting in which in the end will pay off, not only for him but also for his teammates. I’m confident in that."

Van Nistelrooy's assessment this week will have given him confidence and Amorim would love to walk into a forward high in belief and in goalscoring form.

Game intelligence

Anyone who watched Sporting's demolition of Manchester City in midweek will have seen how Amorim's side soaked up pressure early on and then blitzed Pep Guardiola's men with a second half onslaught. The game was often open, which suited Sporting on transition, but the initial approach was one of containment from Amorim's side.

City dominated the early possession and carved out several chances, yet Sporting stayed solid, defended as a team and constantly looked to counter with speed on turnovers. In the second half, they utilised the running threat of Gyokeres even more to expose City's fragile backline and played quickly and accurately through the lines to prevent the visitors from finding a foothold.

Amorim was often at his tactics board pitchside to assess and adapt to what he was watching unfold in front of him and his players were capable and confident to modify as the contest went on. United have been short of a style for some time but look a little clearer under Van Nistelrooy and continuing that trajectory will give Amorim further belief that he can bring his Sporting strengths to Old Trafford.