Erik ten Hag raided his old club Ajax for Antony, the second most expensive signing in United history behind Paul Pogba.
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But the 24-year-old has had a miserable 20 months with issues off the pitch affecting his performances on it.
And unless Antony finds top form soon, United could decide to cut their losses in the summer following Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s arrival.
Antony was put on ‘leave of absence’ in September after allegations of domestic abuse.
He returned in October but has contributed no goals nor assists in his last 20 league games.
On Saturday, Ten Hag picked 19-year-old Omari Forson to start against Fulham with Rasmus Hojlund out injured.
And when United were 1-0 down, the Dutch boss threw on Amad Diallo to try to save the game with Antony eventually going on a minute from time in the 2-1 defeat.
Ten Hag still hopes to get the best out of a player who did well under him at Ajax.
But he admitted after Saturday’s game that Diallo and Forson — as well as Alejandro Garnacho — all deserved to play ahead of Antony.
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Ten Hag said: “It was nothing to do with fitness. He is fit but we have many options on the right side where we lack in other positions due to injuries.
“The form Antony is in we all have seen and he has to step up. I see it in training, but also Omari [Forson] and Amad Diallo and Garnacho deserve to play.
“He has to prove a point but he will be able to do that. He has big potential even though he hasn’t shown it lately, but I know what his talent is and it’s about him proving his talent, it’s about him.
“He will probably get his opportunities but I think that was probably always the idea and you have competitions and now he has to show himself on the training pitch but also others do.
“We have opportunities there with [Amad] Diallo returning from injury he’s doing well in training, Omar is doing well.
“We have options to fill in those positions, it’s not set that Marcus Rashford has to play as a centre forward.”
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