Erik ten Hag had no time to play favourites with a brutal late substitution of Antony against Fulham.
The Brazilian was brought on within the ninth minute of stoppage time within the 2-1, and only managed a single touch before the full-time whistle was blown.
It marks an enormous decline for the person who starred for Ten Hag at Ajax before moving to Old Trafford with him for a whopping £80million.
Antony has been left feeding off scraps on the subject of minutes this season, and on current form he has little likelihood of getting within the team ahead of first-choice wingers Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford.
Ten Hag was asked if the choice to depart Antony out was all the way down to match fitness, and gave a brutal response.
“It was nothing to do with fitness,” he said. “He’s fit but we now have many options on the precise side where we lack in other positions on account of injuries.
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“The shape Antony is in all of us have seen and he has to step up. I see it in training, but in addition Omari [Forson] and Amad Diallo and Garnacho need to play.”
Ten Hag had already been asked about Antony’s situation before the match, with the 24-year-old playing just two minutes against West Ham.
“He has to prove a degree but he’ll give you the chance to try this,” the Dutchman said. “He has big potential regardless that he hasn’t shown it recently, but I do know what his talent is and it’s about him proving his talent, it’s about him.
“He’ll probably get his opportunities but I feel that was probably at all times the thought and you have got competitions and now he has to indicate himself on the training pitch but in addition others do.
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“We’ve opportunities there with [Amad] Diallo getting back from injury he’s doing well in training, Omar is doing well.
“We’ve options to fill in those positions, it’s not set that Marcus Rashford has to play as a centre forward.”
