Before he heads to Manchester United, Ruben Amorim must continue as Sporting manager until November 10.

Incoming Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has a date with Manchester City to prepare for.

Sporting face Manchester City in the Champions League on November 4.

It is an inconveniently timed clash for the outgoing Sporting boss.

In just over a month's time, Amorim will face City as Manchester United boss.

This will be another chance for him to go head to head with Pep Guardiola.

Amorim says no matter what happens, conclusions will be jumped to, and is simply trying to focus on the task at hand, rather than the bigger picture.

The Sporting boss will take on City without his star centre-back Goncalo Inacio.

He may not return until after the international break, meaning Inacio could have played his final game under him.

For now at least.

MORE UNITED STORIESInacio has been a key part of Amorim's plans at Sporting, a regular during his two title successes, playing more than 180 games since the manager promoted him from the academy.

Speaking at his press conference ahead of the City game, Amorim told Zero Zero: "Inacio is out.

"We could take a chance, but the international break is coming up.

"We don't know if he can still play in Braga, but we didn't want to risk a longer break, because he is sacrificing himself for the team and we have to be careful, because the championship is very long and Inacio is important.

We'll see if he's fit for the next game.

"Amorim approach is the right one Ruben Amorim's approach is the correct one to take, and it is somewhat refreshing, considering the way Manchester United have handled injuries badly.

Amorim is taking the long-term view for the good of the player, by leaving him out of the City game.

He might play him against Braga on Sunday - but only if he is absolutely convinced it is in the team's long-term interests.

He is thinking selflessly too.

Amorim has no personal stakes in protecting Amorim for later in the season, he won't be the Sporting manager by time the week is over.

Yet he is making the right decision.

Manchester United's players need a head coach who will think long-term, this was a problem at times last season as stars kept getting re-injured.

Even during his first season, Erik ten Hag was reluctant to rotate, preferring to stick with the same side, and this may have stored some problems up for later on.

Amorim has vowed not to sign any Sporting players in the January transfer window - but Goncalo Inacio is a very interesting player United could sign next summer.

You could argue the outgoing Sporting boss could be thinking really long-term by preserving his fitness.

Yet really we should take this for what it is; sensible management from Amorim, which fills us with confidence he will do the same at Manchester United.

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