Ruben Amorim tells Antony how to earn Man Utd lifeline as he highlights key weakness in Brazilian's game amid January transfer rumours

Antony has become a figure of ridicule at Old Trafford since his £85 million ($108m) move to United from Ajax in 2022. The Brazilian winger has only managed to score five Premier League goals across his first two-and-a-half seasons at the club, and has been regularly criticised for his predictable dribbling style and lack of end product.

It has been reported that United are ready to cut their losses on Antony in the January transfer window, but Amorim has come out to tell the 24-year-old how to earn a lifeline in Manchester. Amorim has been using Antony in a wing-back role in recent matches, including off the bench in Sunday's derby win over Manchester City, and the new Red Devils boss has been pleased with his progress.

Amorim has suggested that Antony's destiny is in his own hands, but also admits the Brazil international still needs to work on one vital facet of his game.

"I think, when we started, everybody is from scratch," the United head coach told talkSPORT. "We took like one month to explain that everything has a new beginning because every person deserves a new beginning and the power is in their hands because, if they show it, I will put them in to play. I just want to win. They are responsible to play, not me. He did a great job improving in that position. He has to defend more but he has the ability to do it and has to do it himself."

Antony has only started one game under Amorim so far, United's 3-2 Europa League win over Bodo/Glimt, but will hope to be back in the starting XI when they travel to Tottenham in the League Cup quarter-finals on Thursday. The Red Devils are due back in Premier League action at Old Trafford three days later against Bournemouth.