Rashford dropped, Shaw risk, Mainoo return - Who Ruben Amorim should pick for Man United debut

International breaks rarely go quickly but for Manchester United fans the wait for the Premier League's return has been particularly arduous.

That's because new head coach Ruben Amorim has arrived at Carrington and is preparing to take charge of United for the first time since replacing Erik ten Hag. A trip to Suffolk is on the agenda for the Portuguese with Ipswich Town hosts.

Ex-United assistant Kieran McKenna secured his first Premier League victory before the break with a win at Tottenham Hotspur and Amorim will be under no illusions about the challenge ahead. But before he can concentrate on the 90 minutes, the 39-year-old must first navigate the perils of his first team selection.

READ MORE: Amorim has three players perfect for his new system

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MEN Sport has asked our United writers to name their starting line-ups for the clash at Portman Road.

Jack Flintham

First thing which seems clear is that Amorim will want to introduce the 3-4-3 system to the club almost immediately. There is a logic to suggest that United should stick with a 4-3-3 that they have been used to but it has not consistently yielded results so why waste time implementing the new strategy.

Nobody is expecting United to turn a corner overnight with Amorim and that should give him a bit of licence to experiment. Perhaps controversially, I would be looking to drop Marcus Rashford and place my faith in Alejandro Garnacho and Amad with Bruno Fernandes playing a false nine role.

This of course means no room for Rasmus Hojlund either but I think he would be a great option off the bench to change things up. My selection also relies on the hope that injuries to Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw and Kobbie Mainoo have been pushed to one side and that they are ready to face the Tractor Boys.

However, the likes of; Jonny Evans, Christian Eriksen and Manuel Ugarte could be called upon to fill gaps if needed.

Flintham's XI vs Ipswich Town - Onana; Martinez, De Ligt, Shaw; Dalot, Mainoo, Casemiro, Mazraoui; Amad, Fernandes, Garnacho

Josh Holland

As Jack mentions above, Amorim will be keen to introduce his 3-4-3 system straight away. However, is it too much to ask for after less than one week on the training ground, with many players returning throughout from their national team duties.

Amorim wouldn't be judged for sticking with a 4-3-3 system in his first game. I think, in my honest opinion, it could be a risky decision to use a brand new formation at United in what is a tricky fixture.

That's why I've gone for a different XI than Jack. My back four would see Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot continue at full-back with Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez completing the defence.

In midfield, bringing in Mainoo is too soon so sticking with the duo that worked under Ruud van Nistelrooy (Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte) would be the better option. Further forward becomes more complicated with Rashford the one to drop. Amad and Garnacho are my choice to flank Hojlund with Bruno Fernandes in the pocket.

Holland's XI vs Ipswich Town: Onana; Dalot, De Ligt, Martinez, Mazraoui; Casemiro, Ugarte; Amad, Fernandes, Garnacho; Hojlund.

Isaac Johnson

This is a tricky one with it unclear who is back from injury and who isn’t. So I’m going to assume those back in training will at least make the matchday squad and predict Martinez’s back injury isn’t severe given he last the full match against Leicester pre-break.

Should Amorim adopt his 3-4-3 formation, Martinez could sit beside Matthijs de Ligt and Evans, with Harry Maguire not yet back from injury and Victor Lindelof picking up a nasty-looking knock for Sweden. It would be foolish to play Leny Yoro from the start.

Any route back from a metatarsal injury must be carefully managed, let alone a fracture. I doubt Shaw and Tyrell Malacia are up to match fitness yet so Dalot and Mazraoui could occupy the wing-back slots, despite the training ground 'hint' with Antony.

I can see Casemiro partnering Fernandes in midfield. He has had a week to learn Amorim’s tactics due to him being out of the picture for Brazil, and would provide an anchor to allow Fernandes to push forward. Mainoo may feature but has only recently returned from injury while Ugarte barely has a few days to reset after flying back from Uruguay duty.

Up top, Hojlund will lead the line, likely with Garnacho on a flank. It might be the right channel to allow Rashford to come in on the left. Amorim favoured youth at Sporting CP so Amad has a good chance of minutes under him, just maybe not until he’s been fully judged.

Johnson's XI vs Ipswich Town: Onana; De Ligt, Evans, Martinez; Dalot, Casemiro, Fernandes, Mazraoui; Garnacho, Hojlund, Rashford.

Liam Wood

United have, once again, been hit harder than most when it comes to injuries this season and that could have a significant impact on who plays where in Amorim's first game, especially with an expected system change. They were short enough at left-back anyway this season and that concern might be magnified even further in a three-man defensive unit, so Dalot or Mazraoui will have to listen carefully to their pre-match team talk.

Question marks over who might be available at the back is telling. Yoro has yet to feature at all this season after a big-money transfer and he won't be available just yet, either, with Maguire, Martinez and other centre-backs also nursing problems from before November's international break.

Mainoo being back provides a huge pre-game boost to Amorim and United generally. He ought to dislodge either Casemiro or Ugarte in the bottom half of the midfield box. Needing to patch things up at the back, probably, their main decisions will come in attacking quarters and who operates behind a lone frontman - all eyes will be on what happens in that regard as it could be telling to the club's transfer plans, too.

Wood's XI vs Ipswich Town: Onana; De Ligt, Evans, Martinez; Dalot, Casemiro, Mainoo, Mazraoui; Amad, Fernandes, Rashford.