Manchester United look likely to be without £80m winger Antony for the FA Cup final showdown with neighbours Manchester City.
The Brazilian injured his ankle in United’s penultimate Premier League game of the season, the 4-1 win over Chelsea, eight days ago.
By last weekend, Erik ten Hag appeared optimistic that the 23-year-old was winning his race to be fit for the derby final.
But Antony has not progressed as had been hoped this week and ten Hag now rates him as extremely doubtful to take part in the Wembley clash.
“Unlikely, but he still has a chance but a really small chance,” said ten Hag.
“He didn’t make progress so he still has a chance but unlikely he is available.”
With Antony Martial already ruled out with a thigh injury, it means Ten Hag looks set to be without two potential starters for the meeting with Pep Guardiola’s treble chasers.
Ten Hag could hand a dramatic start to teenage winger Alejandro Garnacho to replace Antony against the Premier League champions.
But his more obvious choice would be to start with Casemiro and Fred in holding midfield roles and move Christian Eriksen into the number 10 position, with Jadon Sancho and Bruno Fernandes out wide and Marcus Rashford up front.
“These questions [arise] so many times from [the] absence of players,” he said. “It is about the players who are available and many times we were successful.
“We have a good squad and from the good squad we make a good team.”
Regardless of his selection, Ten Hag knows United supporters are desperate for his side to stop City from matching the Red Devils’ 1999 team by winning the treble.
“We want to win a cup, it is not about stopping them, it is about winning the cup in a great opportunity,” he said.
“I think they do a very good job, they play very good football so they deserve it. Of course, I look at our opponents but we look to ourselves and you have to see where you are as a club and from there you have to make progress.
“And I think we did last season, we are in a good direction and we have our opportunity in the summer to make new targets, new goals.
“But the longer term they will stay the same. We want to restore Man United, but they will stay the same.”
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