Manchester United will be wary of the dreaded ‘new manager bounce’ when they visit Nottingham Forest in the Premier League next week.

Rúben Amorim has faced heavy criticism during his time as United head coach this season but has managed to ease the pressure after back-to-back wins, including a morale-boosting victory over Liverpool at the weekend. Reports earlier this month suggested the Portuguese tactician was on the brink of losing his job if United failed to beat Sunderland — a game they went on to win — and co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has since publicly reaffirmed his support for Amorim.

While Amorim has steadied the ship at Old Trafford, Forest have once again turned to change. The Midlands club dismissed Ange Postecoglou just minutes after their 3-0 defeat to Chelsea on Saturday, ending his short 39-day stint in charge. Despite his poor spell at Forest, Postecoglou may have relished facing United next week, having beaten them four times during his time as Tottenham manager last season.

Dyche set to take over at Nottingham Forest

Forest are now closing in on appointing Sean Dyche as their third head coach of the campaign. The 54-year-old, who has been out of work since leaving Everton in January, is expected to take charge in time for United’s visit to the City Ground.

The club had considered several alternatives, including Fulham boss Marco Silva and former Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini. However, Silva was unwilling to leave Craven Cottage mid-season, and a £13 million release clause made his move unrealistic. Dyche’s availability and Premier League experience made him the preferred choice for owner Evangelos Marinakis, who hopes to finalise the appointment ahead of Thursday’s Europa League clash with Porto.

If confirmed, Dyche’s first league game at home would be against Manchester United — a fixture that history suggests won’t be easy. Across 18 meetings with the Red Devils in his managerial career, Dyche has managed just one victory, alongside five draws and twelve defeats.

That lone win came at Old Trafford in January 2020, when Burnley stunned United 2-0 with goals from Chris Wood and Jay Rodriguez. Since then, Dyche has lost all four encounters against them, including a 4-0 defeat last December while in charge of Everton.

For Amorim and United, the trip to Forest now looks more unpredictable than ever — and avoiding the sting of a new-manager bounce will be crucial if they are to maintain their recent momentum.