However, he appears to have been handed the task of being United’s furthest player forward as he started the game operating as the centre-forward, flanked by Amad and Bryan Mbeumo.

“Manchester United are playing without a centre-forward,” Gary Neville said while on co-commentary duty for Sky Sports. "It is a complete about-turn from the Manchester United boss.

"Manchester United are playing a new system. It is not clear after 15 minutes that they are more difficult to play against."

New role: Bruno Fernandes

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Man United are without Luke Shaw, Kobbie Mainoo, Benjamin Sesko, Patrick Dorgu and Manuel Ugarte against Leeds as they go in search of a first win in six games across all competitions.

Explaining the absences of Shaw and Mainoo, in particular, Carrick said the pair lost their battle to return to the matchday squad.

“Close-ish, not close enough,” the Man United head coach told Sky Sports when asked how close Shaw and Mainoo were to making the matchday squad. “It is what it is, we have to adapt and adjust.

“This is why we have the squad and we have to be versatile at certain times and today we have a good team and the boys are looking forward to it.”