Captain, formation, team talk - Ruben Amorim's to-do list before first Manchester United match

All eyes will be on Ruben Amorim when Manchester United face Ipswich Town in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.

The 39-year-old has officially began work as the club's new head coach and will be preparing his side as best he can ahead of their return to action, with an immediate focus on climbing up the league table.

Amorim will be under immediate pressure to transform United's fortunes, though it might take a while yet before he is able to mould the side in his vision, particularly if he is to successfully implement their new tactical approach on the pitch.

Here is a look at his to-do list ahead of the trip to face Ipswich Town this weekend:

Choose his captain

Erik ten Hag waited a season before he officially changed his United captain, though the expectation is that Bruno Fernandes will retain the armband under Amorim.

Fernandes is still probably the leading candidate for the armband, but if there was ever a time for his position to be revaluated it would be with the arrival of a new head coach and the dilemma over where he fits into the line up if they change formation. The Portuguese playmaker will be looking to impress his compatriot right away this week, with his work ethic, leadership and communication skills. Either way, he must prove why he deserves to keep the armband.

Change the formation

It will be fascinating to see whether or not Amorim changes United's formation straight away, or if he tries to gradually ease them into a new tactical approach over time. The 39-year-old is renowned for his stubborn three at the back set-up, something he might not be able to implement properly until Leny Yoro, Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw are all fully fit again. Given the teething issues of trying something new tactically mid-season, when there are also two matches a week, it could be a while before we actually see Amorim's side playing the way he wants them to.

Implement his identity

One of the biggest criticisms of Ten Hag is that even in his third season, it was hard to say what he style of play really was. Amorim is looking to address that issue and even said it himself in his first media interview as United head coach, "the most important thing for me is identity. So since day one we will start with our identity, from the first game."

No matter what formation they use, United will look to play with a new desire and tactical discipline against Ipswich this weekend, an identity that should only grow stronger in the weeks ahead.

Motivate the players

It's easier said than done, but if Amorim manages to motivate his players properly, then United could transform their fortunes immediately. It is easy to feel negative about United's level of quality after such a poor start to the campaign, but it is clear they have a talented squad who have performed far beyond their expectations so far.

Although much of the focus will be on tactics, formation and transfers, one of the most important things for Amorim will be to restore the self-belief that has been missing this season.

Face the media

United opted against an official press conference to unveil Amorim as their new head coach, meaning he will face the media for the first time when he previews the Ipswich Town clash at the end of the week.

We learned a lot from his first media duties with official club channels, but you can expect a different line of questioning when he speaks to the local and national press. Amorim will no doubt be asked some tougher questions about the pressure he is under and why he can succeed in a position so many others have failed in. We’ll soon known if he can talk the talk and walk the walk.