Ruud van Nistelrooy might have a Manchester United dilemma to try and solve vs Chelsea

Manchester United will be targeting a second win in as many games under caretaker manager Ruud van Nistelrooy when they welcome Chelsea to Old Trafford in the Premier League this afternoon.

United, who confirmed the appointment of Ruben Amorim as their new head coach on Friday, will be looking to build on Wednesday night's 5-2 win over Leicester City in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.

Van Nistelrooy will remain in charge until Amorim officially starts work at Old Trafford on November 11 and will oversee the next three matches.

READ MORE: Why United have appointed Ruben Amorim as their new head coach

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He will be hoping his side can build on the positive performance they produced against the Foxes and start turning their league fortunes around. United have won just three of their opening nine league matches this season.

Here are five things to look out for this afternoon...

A big week ahead

With Amorim not taking charge until the international break, Van Nistelrooy is the man tasked with trying to oversee an upturn in fortunes over the next three games. Wednesday night's win over Leicester was the perfect start for the Dutchman, but a start is all it was.

United have won just three of their first nine league games this season and are currently closer to the relegation zone than they are the top of the table. Chelsea, on paper, will pose the sternest test United will face over the next eight days, but you would not bet against them pulling something out of the hat this afternoon to kick-start their season.

Following this afternoon's tussle with the Londoners, United will welcome PAOK to Old Trafford in the Europa League on Thursday night and Leicester again in the league next Sunday. A hat-trick of home games gives Van Nistelrooy a very good chance of handing the team over to Amorim with confidence flowing through its veins.

United's home form has been indifferent so far this season to say the least, but Van Nistelrooy breathed new life into the team with the win over Leicester. More of the same will only help Amorim when the time comes for him to pick up the baton.

Hojlund must return

United have had to handle Rasmus Hojlund's load carefully so far this season, meaning it was little surprise to see Joshua Zirkzee start ahead of him in midweek. However, the Dane is primed to return to the starting XI this afternoon and lead the line.

He scored in his last home league appearance, netting against Brentford, and United need to find a way of getting him firing after missing the start of the season through injury. He was excellent against the Bees, and Van Nistelrooy will want to see more of the same.

The Dane is under pressure to be United's main source of goals, and he plundered a very respectable tally of 16 last season. After a frustrating start to the campaign, he will now be hoping to eat into last season's tally and attempt to surpass it.

Ugarte's next step

Thrown back into the XI by Van Nistelrooy in midweek, Manuel Ugarte produced another accomplished showing in the middle, striking a solid understanding with Casemiro at the base of the midfield.

Ugarte, of course, played the best football of his career so far under Amorim at Sporting and will now be hoping to excel under his stewardship again in Manchester. Much-improved against Fenerbahce and Leicester in the Europa League and Carabao Cup, respectively, he will now be hoping to leave his calling card in the Premier League.

Ugarte has just started just one league game since arriving from Paris Saint-Germain at the end of August and that was against Tottenham Hotspur. Everything went wrong for United that day and he will be itching to experience a more positive feeling against Chelsea.

By awarding him another start, it will only strengthen his chances of adapting to the Premier League.

Amad dilemma

Having played a key hand in the build up to Casemiro's goal against West Ham United last weekend, Amad may have felt aggrieved to have been left out of the starting XI again in midweek. He last started when United faced FC Porto exactly a month ago.

As he was against the Hammers, he was bright and productive after stepping off the bench with 63 minutes played against the Foxes. He registered three shots, one of which was an acrobatic effort that almost found the back of the net, and had a 94 per cent passing accuracy.

He was lively and inventive, making things happen. He has certainly given Van Nistelrooy something to think about in the battle with Marcus Rashford to start on the right-wing.

Palmer's brilliance

If United are to take anything from this afternoon's game, they will have to keep a very close eye on Cole Palmer. The Chelsea star has been outstanding so far this season, scoring seven goals and registering five assists in just nine Premier League appearances.

The former City man has been the best signing of the Todd Boehly era at Chelsea by some distance and he is a threat every time he gets on the ball. United will need the likes of Ugarte and Casemiro to keep a very, very close eye on him.