Antony and forgotten Man Utd man play in secret behind-closed-doors friendly to stay fit during international break

ANTONY joined another struggling Manchester United star in a behind-closed-doors friendly yesterday.

Many of Erik ten Hag’s squad are currently away on international duty with their respective nations.

PA

Antony featured in a friendly this week while most of the Man Utd squad are on international duty[/caption]

Getty

Donny van de Beek also lined-up against Hull City[/caption]

However, the Brazilian was left out of his nation’s latest squad for their upcoming crunch World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina.

Antony, 23, has remained at Carrington to work on his fitness and he got some match action yesterday.

Dutch midfielder Donny van de Beek is another that has not been selected for international duty.

And he also got the opportunity to get some extra minutes out on the pitch on Tuesday as United took on Championship promotion hopefuls Hull City.

The Red Devils signed Antony for £86million from Ajax in August 2022 as Ten Hag raided his former club.

Despite a bright start, the winger has struggled both on and off the pitch at Old Trafford since.

Antony has scored eight goals and provided just three assists, none of which have come this season.

Speculation has now been mounting that once Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s investment in the club is completed then he will be one of the flops they will look to offload.

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Meanwhile, Van de Beek, a £34m signing from Ajax in 2020, is still at the club despite failing to make a breakthrough into a first-team regular.

The star’s time in England has been marred by injuries and a lack of minutes, with a loan move to Everton failing to turn his fortunes around.

With just under two years still remaining on his contract, the Netherlands star has played just 21 minutes so far this season with his last outing coming off the bench in the 1-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace on September 30.

However, Christian Eriksen’s recent injury setback could mean that Ten Hag calls on him for the upcoming hectic winter schedule.

Therefore those minutes he got under his belt against Liam Rosenior’s Tigers could prove vital as he finally looks to make his mark at United. 

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