Rasmus Hojlund starts, Marcus Rashford's new position – Man Utd icon's perfect Ruben Amorim XI

New Man Utd manager Ruben Amorim led his first training session this week as he mulls over the Red Devils starting line-up ahead of his first game in charge on Sunday

Manchester United icon Wes Brown thinks he knows who should make Ruben Amorim's perfect first XI.

Amorim oversaw his first United training session on Monday at Carrington. The Portuguese manager, who succeeds Erik ten Hag having arrived from Sporting CP, had the chance to take a look at some of his players close-up for the first time, though several of them were away on international duty.

The 39-year-old is expected to quickly look to impart the same coaching philosophy that won him two Primeira Liga titles on the Red Devils squad ahead of his first game in charge - a Premier League fixture away at Ipswich Town on Sunday. Amorim played a 3-4-3 formation at Sporting and is expected to rip up Ten Hag’s approach and introduce the set-up to his new players.

With his specific tactics in mind, former United defender Brown has given his own thoughts on how the starting line-up should look when everyone is fit and available. Speaking to Bedste Online Casino, the 45-year-old named Rasmus Hojlund as his starting striker over Joshua Zirkzee. But even more interestingly, he opted to play Marcus Rashford just behind Hojlund in an entirely new role.

Five-time Premier League champion Brown’s XI was as follows: Andre Onana; Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, Lisandro Martinez; Diogo Dalot, Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo, Noussair Mazraoui; Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford; Rasmus Hojlund.

He explained: “With everyone fit, I’d like to see a back three of Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez in front of Andre Onana. I’d like to see Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo in the middle with Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui as wing-backs.

“Then Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford in behind Rasmus Hojlund. That team has plenty of creativity as well as pace at the back, but I’m sure everyone under Amorim will get a chance to impress.”

Rashford has primarily been used coming off the left flank in recent seasons to varying degrees of success, but Amorim's system uses wing-backs instead of wingers. He also played as a striker when he first broke into the team in 2016, but Brown's suggestion would mean him having to learn a new position.

Amorim’s first training session saw the manager split his players up into two teams. The ‘A team’ lined up in a 3-4-3 shape, with Leny Yoro, Jonny Evans and Luke Shaw as a back three. Ahead of them were Antony, Casemiro, Kobbie Mainoo and Tyrell Malacia, with Amad Diallo, Marcus Rashford and Mason Mount as the three most attacking players.

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