Ruben Amorim has something exciting up his sleeve for Athletic Bilbao vs Manchester United

Manchester United were poor until Bournemouth went down to 10 men on Sunday, but the majority who started at the Vitality Stadium will start against Athletic Bilbao on Thursday.

It has been 'Bilbao or bust' for a few months now, and it is truly remarkable to think this awful United side could lift a European trophy at the end of one of the worst campaigns in the club's history.

Nothing about the performance against Bournemouth gave fans hope of beating Bilbao, although games have been won against greater odds and anything could happen across two legs.

Ruben Amorim picked his team to face Bournemouth with Bilbao at the forefront of his mind. The players who will start at the Estadio de San Mames were allowed to build rhythm and it would be a surprise to see Amorim make more than two changes to the starting XI.

Shaw looked rusty for most of the game and played a role in Bournemouth's goal in the first half. He started on the left of the back-three, where he'd previously exclusively played under Amorim, but the 40-year-old moved Shaw to left wing-back for the first time in the second half.

Evanilson had been sent off already by that stage. Chido Obi was introduced to the game for Noussair Mazraoui, which meant Patrick Dorgu went to right wing-back and Shaw went to left wing-back.

Shaw looked better after the position switch. Bournemouth had 10 men and United committed bodies forward for an equaliser, so the context is important, but he had 29 touches of the ball, created three chances and played three crosses into the box.

The 29-year-old played the ball into the box for Rasmus Hojlund's goal, and his last 25 minutes on the pitch compensated for what had otherwise been an underwhelming return to action.

"It was not the plan to have 90 minutes but you need to win games," said Amorim about Shaw. "And you could feel that he was overloaded in that part of the field. He’s really good on crosses.

"He’s really good in the final third decision, he has a lot of quality. When we are losing or drawing, you don’t think about the next game. You need to win. I was not focused on the next game."

Shaw made it through the entire game unscathed and it feels likely Amorim will pick the same back five against Bilbao, however, it would make sense to tweak and start Shaw at wing-back.

Harry Amass would come into the equation if he weren't so young, but the Europa League games against Bilbao are the most important of the season and Shaw has experience on the big stage.

Dorgu (lwb), Shaw, Harry Maguire, Leny Yoro and Mazraoui (rwb) started against Bournemouth.

Shaw (lwb), Yoro, Maguire, Mazraoui and Dorgu (rwb) should start against Bilbao on Thursday.

Starting Shaw at left wing-back for the first time feels like a no-brainer for Amorim. He had only played Shaw in the back-three until Bournemouth and the tweak in the second half unlocked improvement.

It's not like Shaw lacks experience in that role, having played at left wing-back brilliantly for England at major tournaments, and his attacking quality is a huge asset in the final third.

Shaw is the best wing-back in the dressing room when he is at his best, and it would feel like a missed opportunity if Amorim persisted with him in the back-three against Bilbao.

Amorim must move his chess pieces on the board and tweaking Shaw's role should pay off.