There are three guarantees in life: death, taxes and Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim tinkering with his attack.
Rotation has been a running theme since Amorim succeeded Erik ten Hag as United boss last November, with the former Sporting Lisbon chief regularly chopping and changing to contend with injury issues and a relentless fixture schedule.
Against Manchester City on Sunday, for example, Amorim brought Rasmus Hojlund back into the starting XI at Joshua Zirkzee's expense after the Dane had started the 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest five days earlier on the bench. He was supported in attack by Bruno Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho.
Hojlund's recall to the starting XI marked the 16th successive game that Amorim had made at least one change to his attack. He last named the same front-three for successive fixtures when United beat Arsenal on penalties in the FA Cup and then Southampton 3-1 in the Premier League in January.
On those two occasions, Hojlund was given the nod to lead the line, supported by Garnacho and Fernandes. However, since then, Fernandes has offered more to the team as a No.8, Kobbie Mainoo has experienced life as a No.10, Mason Mount has returned from injury, Hojlund has scored just one goal, albeit to end the goal drought he was already on, and Zirkzee has only scored twice.
With all that in mind, it is little wonder Amorim is still looking for the right solution. United are still struggling to score goals and it is no secret the addition of a striker has to be the main priority this summer.
Until United reach the summer transfer window, Amorim has got to make ends meet and work with what is available to him. But his constant tinkering makes it crystal clear that he is yet to stumble across the right combination.
After setting up with a defensive-minded team against City, Amorim, despite watching his side create the better chances, may be feeling a tinge of pressure to unleash a more attack-minded team at the Groupama Stadium tonight. It means Casemiro, despite his strong performances in the Europa League this season, may have to be sacrificed to allow Fernandes to drop back into midfield and partner Manuel Ugarte.
Fernandes has started the last two games as the right-sided No.10 and had a positive impact from that berth against City, pulling the strings and making things happen. However, United will be able to accommodate an extra attacker if he drops into a deeper midfield role this evening.
After two substitute appearances since coming back from a long-term injury lay-off, Mount will be itching to make his first start since mid-December.
Very highly thought of by Amorim, Mount is unlikely to be waiting too much longer to bag himself a start after lapping up so much praise from the United boss during his absence. It would be cruel of Amorim to not unleash him sooner rather than later after hyping him up so much during his absence.
If Mount gets the nod and makes his fourth start of the Amorim era, there is a chance he could start in attack alongside Garnacho and Hojlund. Two of his three previous starts under the United head coach have been alongside the Argentine and Dane.
However, Amorim has tinkered with his starting striker lately, rotating Zirkzee and Hojlund in each of the last three games, meaning if that pattern is anything to go by, Zirkzee could be in line for a recall this evening. Hojlund started the 3-0 win over Leicester City prior to the international break, lost his place to Zirkzee against Forest, but was then recalled against City.
Neither player has done anything across those games to justify a place in the starting XI, with Hojlund's goal against Leicester a flash in the pan and Zirkzee anonymous against Forest. However, Amorim is currently unable to rely on a dependable striker.
Despite dropping too deep and needing pointers on his positioning against City, Hojlund is a more logical option to lead the line than Zirkzee. The former Bologna man has proven on his last two starts as the No.9 - against Forest and Arsenal - that he is not a striker.
He goes missing when leading the line, meaning United often look as though they are playing with ten men. If he is recalled this evening, Amorim will start with a previously unseen attack if Mount and Garnacho also get the nod.
However, it would be the wrong attack.
