Antony handed Man Utd lifeline as Erik ten Hag bizarrely claims 'no defender can stop' £85m winger despite his awful output in the final third

Ten Hag, who signed Antony from former club Ajax for £85m ($108m) in the summer of 2022, has not given the Brazilian a start since playing fourth division Newport County in the FA Cup in late January. Antony has not started a league game since his dire performance against Nottingham Forest on December 30, and it has been reported that United could cut their losses on the winger in the summer transfer window.

"I know from the past he is unstoppable, no defender can stop him because he's one of the quickest in the first 10 yards, when he plays that game I'm sure he will perform, he is resilient, he is a character," Ten Hag told a press conference on Tuesday.

Antony has scored just one goal this season and has only one assist, both of which came against Newport. His greatest humiliation, however, came when he was left out of the starting line-up against Fulham - on his 24th birthday - in favour of 19-year-old Omari Forson, who had never previously started for United. Antony was brought on in the 98th minute of the 2-1 defeat, which dealt a huge blow to United's top-four ambitions.

Just last week Ten Hag admitted that Antony had not shown his potential lately when asked whether the Brazilian could get a chance while Rasmus Hojlund recovers from injury.

United visit Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup fifth round on Wednesday. The cup is the Red Devils' last chance to salvage what has been a harrowing season all round, with the team struggling to push for a top-four finish after crashing out of the Champions League in the group stage.