Explained: Why Chris Wilder's hands have already been tied when it comes to tactics ahead of this month's meeting with West Ham

With Jack O’Connell expected to miss the rest of the season, and no direct replacement being signed during the recent transfer window, some commentators believe United should consider ditching their 3-5-2 system until the centre-half recovers from knee surgery.

Although Wilder is reluctant to take that step, referencing how his team ran Liverpool and Manchester City close before being beaten 4-1 by Chelsea last weekend, he could eventually be forced to take that step in order to try and spark a change in fortune.

However, with most of those set to face West Ham on November 22nd unlikely to report back until 48 hours before that game, Wilder said: “We can’t really do any shape work. We’ve got too many away and, as you can imagine, the ones who have gone away are the ones who are closest to being selected.”

In a sense, United have become victims of their own success under Wilder - with the likes of Enda Stevens and John Egan cementing their place in the Republic of Ireland squad after gaining promotion last year and then finishing ninth last season. John Fleck, acquired on a free transfer from Coventry City in 2016, would also have linked up with Scotland had a back problem not forced him to be overlooked for their forthcoming European Championship qualifier against Serbia and Nations League meetings with Slovakia and Israel.

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