Erik ten Hag says injuries are once again holding his team back after seeing Antony added to the long list of players in the Man Utd treatment room on Thursday night.
The Brazilian was taken off on a stretcher shortly after coming on as a substitute during the 1-1 Europa League draw with Fenerbahce.
Kobbie Mainoo, Leny Yoro, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia and Mason Mount are also out of action.
Ten Hag is hopeful Jonny Evans will be back for Sunday’s Premier League trip to West Ham, while captain Bruno Fernandes will be available again after being suspended for the game in Turkey.
But the United boss says injuries – which plagued the team’s 2023/24 campaign – are a problem once more and the whole club must come together to find a solution.
“Yeah, (the injuries) holds us back in our levels. And also in our position in the league,” said Ten Hag.
“When you don’t have the players available you can’t line up the best team and that is what’s holding us back in this moment and we need more players more often available.
“We have to work all together on this point, players, coaching staff, all the other staff we have to do better to get more available players. Because we know when we have them we are a really tough team to play and can be really successful, which is what we have shown over the last couple of months.”
Ten Hag was unable to give an update on the severity of Antony’s injury but said shared his concern for the winger, who left the stadium wearing a protective boot.
“It’s really unlucky for him,” Ten Hag told IN TV after Antony’s fifth appearance of the season was cut short. “I feel real compassion for him, when he worked so hard in training.
“His training performances are that good that he deserved to come on. When you have to come off so quickly, that is really sad to see.
“Hopefully, it’s not too bad, we have to wait 24 hours for what the assessment is.”
