EASY AS 1-BRU-3

Amorim knows how to get his struggling United side back to winning ways. It's...

- BY TYRONE MARSHALL

RUBEN AMORIM admits it was a Christmas with none of the trimmings at Old Trafford - and his new year is looking short of fizz as well.

Amorim's three most tinsel-toed creatives went missing last month - and left Manchester United to endure a grim run of festive performances.

The United boss has blamed his side's lack of sparkle on the absence of Bruno Fernandes, Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo and said "any team in the world" would miss players of that quality.

United were without Amad and Mbeumo for the games against Aston Villa, Newcastle and Wolves, as they are away on Africa Cup of Nations duty.

Fernandes limped off at halftime at Villa Park, missed the following two fixtures, and will not be ready to return today.

"I don't like to talk about that, it sounds like an excuse," Amorim (right) said. "It was bad luck to lose Amad, Bryan especially, and Bruno at the same time.