Manchester United welcome Ipswich Town to Old Trafford on Wednesday as they chase a first Premier League win in a month and seek to build on Saturday's second half comeback at Everton.
Ruben Amorim has won just four of his 15 games in charge of United, having begun his spell as head coach with a 1-1 draw at Portman Road against tonight's opponents in November. A win for Ipswich tonight would see United's gap to the bottom three cut to 10 points.
United still face an injury crisis, with none of their absent players set to return for the clash against Kieran McKenna's side.
READ MORE: Sheikh Jassim Manchester United takeover stance as reality clear after key move
READ MORE: Ruben Amorim has done something Erik ten Hag wanted to do at Manchester United but didn’t
Chido's chance
After being given a very brief taste of senior football against Tottenham, 17-year-old striker Chido Obi got 20 minutes at Goodison Park on Saturday and so was on the pitch for United's dramatic comeback.
His earlier introduction came about due to another ineffectual performance from striker Rasmus Hojlund, whose goal drought now extends to 16 games. However, with Joshua Zirkzee playing better as a No. 10 and Obi still being very inexperienced, Amorim looks to have few options but to stick with Hojlund and hope the Dane plays himself into form.
If he doesn't, then there is no reason not to keep giving Obi some chances. He has been electric at youth level this season, and although this is a major step up, his goalscoring instincts are there. If Hojlund toils again, then the teenager should get at least 20 to 25 minutes.
Delap's audition
Obi might be seeing this experience of regular first-team training and the chance to get a few minutes in the Premier League as a chance to press his own claims for next season, when it is clear Amorim will want at least one new striker.
Zirkzee doesn't look like a natural centre-forward, and Hojlund is desperately struggling for confidence, so there will be a vacancy. Obi is unlikely to fill it yet, but he can force his way in as a squad option for 2025/26.
The solution is likely to lie in the transfer market, and although a reunion with Victor Gyokeres would be ideal, alternative options have to be considered. One of them must be Liam Delap, the 22-year-old Ipswich striker who has had an impressive season in Suffolk and has nine Premier League goals to his name.
Ipswich might go down, but Delap will surely stay in the Premier League. His strength, pace and ability to run in behind are traits he shares with Gyokeres and he is a realistic option for United.
McKenna's return
This will be Kieran McKenna's first return to Old Trafford in an official capacity since he left the club to take over the League One side - as Ipswich were then - in December 2021.
The Northern Irishman received harsh press at times at United, but his coaching credentials have been clear at Portman Road after successive promotions. Ipswich are also the best of the promoted this season.
He was considered a potential replacement for Erik ten Hag last summer, and although that ship has sailed, he is surely in line for a job at a mid-table Premier League club at least. You can almost guarantee his side will cause United problems on Wednesday.
Amorim staging post
They did that in the first meeting between the teams on November 24, a fixture more notable for being Amorim's first in charge. How rosy everything looked when Marcus Rashford scored after 80 seconds.
The 21 games since that 1-1 draw have been a real slog, and Amorim is unhappy with results and performances. He has stuck to his faithful system throughout and clearly won't change tonight, but there haven't been enough signs of progress. Improving on the draw from his first game will at least be a positive.
Atmosphere question
United's return to Old Trafford for the first time in just under three weeks comes amid the latest announcement on Monday about further job losses and cuts elsewhere at the club as Sir Jim Ratcliffe tries to slash costs.
It was another blow to the morale of the club's staff, and match-going supporters aren't immune to the sense that this club is being ripped apart at the moment. The focus of protests has been on ticket prices, but it will be interesting to see how they respond to the latest cuts.
