Ruben Amorim has copped some unfair flak - but can have no excuses in next few weeks

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At this time of the year, it is always nice to see a smiling face and you can normally be guaranteed one when Ruben Amorim walks into the room. Whatever you think about his 13 months in charge of Manchester United, it cannot be denied he has been a charming addition to the Premier League’s managerial ranks.

And he has had to put up with a lot of critical flak, some of which has strayed into ridicule territory. His record has warranted close scrutiny because it has not been brilliant, winning only 23 of his 58 matches as United manager.

But it has not warranted some of the mockery that has gone his way. Yet still, he almost always remains pleasant, polite and eminently cheerful. No snarling, no sarcasm, no snideness. He is a nice guy.

But after the last Premier League game at Old Trafford - when West Ham United grabbed a late equaliser - Amorim was probably as angry as the regulars in the Old Trafford media theatre have seen him. He was not throwing things around but he was quietly seething.

As an illustration, he did not take kindly to a question about him not trusting the United academy - and Amorim usually takes kindly to all questions, no matter how challenging. But he was seething for a reason. United had blown the chance to erase some of the pain inflicted by 10-man Everton recently and they had blown the chance to begin December with a statement win.

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Rightly, and admirably, Amorim has been supported by the Old Trafford hierarchy, despite regular attacks from pundits, including some very high-profile ex-United players.

Only a few days ago, Paul Scholes said: “I don’t think the manager gets this club, full stop. I just don’t think he’s the right man.”

I disagree. But the run of Premier League fixtures ahead of the FA Cup break is as important as any spell Amorim has had.

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There will be no excuses if United are not, with regard to a top-four place, in a strong position by mid-January. Injuries will not be an excuse, losing players to the Africa Cup of Nations will not be an excuse.

Amorim admitted as much in his press conference ahead of Monday night’s game against Bournemouth, saying: “We have players to cope with everything. With a long week, you can see a lot of things and work on stuff to prepare for any situation.”

After Bournemouth, United travel to Aston Villa, before home games against Newcastle United and Wolves are followed by trips to Leeds United and Burnley. Villa will clearly be tough but United will be facing a team that will have played six more matches this season. That should be significant.

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This United team should be one of the freshest in the country over this festive period. In Bryan Mbeumo, Amad and Noussair Mazraoui, they will miss important players but Amorim has plenty of cover.

And even though it was against a team that is comfortably the worst in the division, Monday’s thumping of Wolves will give them momentum. It is not a make-or-break festive fixture period for Amorim but if he does not give United a happy Christmas, then it will finally be time to ask some serious questions.