Manchester United will be without several key players for the Africa Cup of Nations but the fixture list appears to have done them a favour across the next few months
Ruben Amorim smiles.
Man Utd manager Ruben Amorim may be set for a welcome boost ahead of AFCON.
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Manchester United do not meet a traditional big-six side across their next 10 Premier League matches in a huge boost to Ruben Amorim.
The Reds will be feeling much better about themselves after a poor start to the campaign - which had seen head coach Amorim come under increasing pressure. United are currently on a five-match unbeaten run, though, and sit seventh in the top-flight table after 11 games.
Amorim's squad have secured wins over in-form Sunderland, reigning Premier League champions Liverpool and a Brighton side who have caused them major problems in recent seasons. Amorim's men have earned draws in their last two fixtures - at Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur.
United return to action on Monday night at home to Everton (8pm) before a trip to Crystal Palace six days later. Below is a closer look at their next 10 league fixtures - with no big-six sides until they take on Manchester City in mid-January;
Manchester United's next 10 Premier League fixtures;
Everton (H) - Monday, November 24 (8pm)
Crystal Palace (A) - Sunday, November 30 (12pm)
West Ham United (H) - Thursday, December 4 (8pm)
Wolves (A) - Monday, December 8 (8pm)
AFC Bournemouth (H) - Saturday, December 13 (3pm)
Aston Villa (A) - Sunday, December 21 (4.30pm)
Newcastle United (H) - Friday, December 26 (8pm)
Wolves (H) - Tuesday, December 30 (8.15pm)
Leeds United (A) - Sunday, January 4 (12:30pm)
Burnley (A) - Wednesday, January 7 (8.15pm)
The kinder fixture list, on paper, will be a welcome relief to United and Amorim, with several key players jetting off to the Africa Cup of Nations, which begins in late December. Bryan Mbeumo, Amad and Noussair Mazaraoui are all-set to play in the tournament, which is being held in Morocco and runs until January 18.
Amorim has already offered his thoughts on the scenario United face in the next few months. In that, he insisted it represents an opportunity for other players to step up.
Speaking recently, he said: "When I watch the training, there are players that should be playing, but it's hard with one game to take some players from the team, because they are doing well also during the training, in games. So other players are going to have the opportunity to help us."