Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has asserted that Brazilian forward Antony will need to "earn the right" to regain his spot in the team lineup. Despite being the second most expensive signing in the club's history, with an £82 million transfer from Ajax in 2022, Antony has found himself sidelined, playing only one minute of Premier League football this season.

Ahead of the Carabao Cup third-round fixture against Barnsley, Ten Hag indicated that changes to the team selection could be on the horizon. However, he emphasized that Antony will only feature if he proves himself deserving through his performance and attitude in training sessions.

Ten Hag will have a pool of defenders available for selection, including Lisandro Martínez, Matthijs de Ligt, and Noussair Mazraoui, despite their early exits in the recent 3-0 victory against Southampton. Luke Shaw continues to be sidelined due to a calf injury, with no specific timeline set for his return as his recovery progresses.

Having previously secured both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup in his tenure, Ten Hag underlined the significance of domestic cup competitions. He expressed his intent to vie for a third trophy, stating, "The FA Cup, the Carabao Cup; they're significant. I see the attention from all the teams, all the owners, all the managers, when they win the trophies. Like Liverpool last year. I see all the teams battling for it and we want the same."

Despite varied reactions from social media users, including questioning Ten Hag’s management decisions and Antony's performance, the focus remains on Antony's efforts to reclaim a spot in the squad, with opportunities possibly arising in upcoming matches based on his training performances.