Manchester United have a new contender for key Ruben Amorim role after tactical switch at Ipswich

This wasn't the lift-off for the Ruben Amorim era Manchester United had hoped for, but the mitigation for a sometimes disjointed performance is pretty strong.

Amorim introduced a new formation after two training sessions with his full squad and attempted to up the intensity with a group of players who don't yet have the physical capabilities to sustain it for 90 minutes.

He was also trying to do all of that against a team superbly well-drilled by Kieran McKenna and one that is proving difficult to beat this season. Ipswich have now taken points off Brighton, Aston Villa, Tottenham, and United this season.

The brilliant first goal of the Amorim era after 81 seconds was both a sensational start and a high point. United finished the game strongly, but in between, they were pegged back for large periods and needed Andre Onana at his brilliant best to keep hold of a point.

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Amorim cut a frustrated figure on the touchline, but he was also proactive in trying to tilt the game back United's way. There was a double substitution after 56 minutes and another 12 minutes later when Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee were introduced together.

That change saw Hojlund replace Marcus Rashford as the focal point of the attack, while Zirkzee took the position Fernandes had been playing as the right-sided No. 10. Fernandes dropped back to a deeper midfield role, which resulted in what was probably his best spell in the game.

This was a disappointing afternoon for Fernandes, with his revival under Ruud van Nistelrooy quickly petering out under his countryman. But collecting the ball in that deeper role, closer to Manuel Ugarte, he did display an excellent range of passing and helped United sustain attacks for longer than they had managed in the first three quarters of the game.

It might be that the state of the game helped Fernandes. Ipswich were getting tired by this point, and the captain appeared well-suited to exposing them. Whether it would work playing him deeper from the start is another question, and Amorim summed up the dilemma when speaking to Sky Sports after the game.

"He improved his game by playing near the ball, so he can give us the long pass, but you cannot put him there all the time because he wants the long pass all the time."

Maybe that hints at Fernandes being an option to drop deeper later in games when United are chasing goals. Amorim isn't the first United coach to find the best way to use the 30-year-old, who is both the team's most creative player and the player most likely to turn over possession.

He was neater on the ball on Sunday, completing 92% of his passes, a season-high tally by some distance. Many of those were from that advanced position, and it was noticeable that when he dropped deeper, he looked to utilise his ability to play long passes over the top, trying to get United's forwards running against Ipswich's defenders.

Fernandes made his United debut in a deep midfield role in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's 4-2-3-1, but has barely ventured that far back since emerging as the creative fulcrum of a side lacking goals. This display was a reminder that he can do it, and he plays as more of a No. 8 for Portugal.

The difficult task for Amorim is fitting everyone in. Casemiro and Christian Eriksen started in those positions, but Manuel Ugarte will likely make one his own and Kobbie Mainoo the other. There are options for the No. 10 positions as well. Fernandes started next to Alejandro Garnacho, but Amorim could be tempted to give Mason Mount games there when his match fitness has improved.

That makes Fernandes' versatility a key weapon. There will be games where Amorim sees him as a more helpful option deeper, or even moments in games when the switch can be made. If he can coach out that tendency to look for the long pass every time, he could become even better at controlling the game.

Amorim will be looking for that. The midfield combinations, like the rest of the team, will take time to gel under the new head coach, but Fernandes has given him something to think about.