Burnley vs Manchester United: Preview, Team News and Score Prediction as Darren Fletcher’s Stint Begins

Manchester United will begin life after Ruben Amorim on Wednesday with a trip to Turf Moor to face a struggling Burnley side threatened by relegation.

Amorim was dismissed as head coach on Monday, with former club midfielder Darren Fletcher appointed as interim manager. He will take charge of the team for the first time in this crucial midweek fixture.

PAY ATTENTION: Follow us on Google News, Stay informed with Latest Sport News

Burnley head into Wednesday's clash on the back of a 2-0 loss to Brighton and Hove Albion, a result that extended their winless streak in the Premier League to 11 matches.

Scott Parker's team enjoyed a brief resurgence with back-to-back wins against Leeds United and Wolverhampton Wanderers in late October, but they have failed to secure a victory since. A run of nine defeats in their last 11 games has plunged them deep into a relegation battle.

With just 12 points from 20 matches, the Clarets are languishing in 19th place, six points adrift of 17th-placed Nottingham Forest. Their historical record against United at home offers little comfort; after winning their first-ever Premier League home game against the Red Devils in August 2009, Burnley are winless in the subsequent eight encounters at Turf Moor, losing six and scoring only once.

The reverse fixture earlier this season ended in a dramatic 3-2 defeat for Burnley at Old Trafford, where a 97th-minute penalty from Bruno Fernandes sealed all three points for Manchester United.

For Manchester United, the more things change, the more they seem to stay the same. Amorim's public criticism of the club's hierarchy following Sunday's 1-1 draw with Leeds United made his position untenable, though his swift dismissal on Monday morning still came as a surprise to some.

The Portuguese coach leaves the Red Devils in sixth place, level on points with fifth-placed Chelsea and just three points behind fourth-placed Liverpool. While a top-four finish remains a realistic goal, a challenging run of fixtures lies ahead.

Fletcher is expected to lead the team against Burnley and in this weekend's FA Cup tie against Brighton. It remains unclear whether a caretaker manager will be appointed before the crucial league double-header against Manchester City and Arsenal later this month, with a permanent replacement for Amorim likely to be hired in the summer.

Fletcher's audition for the role begins at Turf Moor, and fans will be hopeful that a change in management—and almost certainly a change in formation—will spark a positive reaction from the team.

Burnley are currently one of the most injury-hit squads in the league. Josh Cullen (knee), Zeki Amdouni (knee), Connor Roberts (calf), Joe Worrall (muscle), Zian Flemming (muscle), and Jordan Beyer (hamstring) are all sidelined. Additionally, Axel Tuanzebe, Hannibal Mejbri, and Lyle Foster are away on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations.

However, the Clarets are optimistic that Maxime Esteve, who missed the Brighton game, will be fit to return. The home side will look to attacker Jaidon Anthony, who has scored four goals this season, for inspiration.

For Manchester United, Amorim had indicated that both Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount could be back in the squad after injury layoffs, with the club captain potentially making an immediate return to the starting lineup.

The team will be without Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo, and Noussair Mazraoui, who are all at AFCON. Kobbie Mainoo (calf), Matthijs de Ligt (back), and Harry Maguire (thigh) are also expected to miss out.

Fletcher is anticipated to deploy a 4-2-3-1 formation. Patrick Dorgu could feature on the right wing, with Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko leading the attack. Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte are likely to continue their partnership in central midfield, while Ayden Heaven and Lisandro Martinez could form the central defensive pairing.

Burnley: Dubravka; Walker, Ekdal, Esteve, Pires; Ugochukwu, Florentino, Laurent; Edwards, Broja, Anthony

Manchester United: Lammens; Dalot, Heaven, Martinez, Shaw; Casemiro, Ugarte; Dorgu, Fernandes, Cunha; Sesko

Despite their recent turmoil, a change in the dugout often provides a boost for a team like Manchester United. Facing a Burnley side depleted by injuries and low on confidence, the visitors should have enough quality to secure a comfortable victory.