‘Serious’ - Erik ten Hag gives worrying Antony injury update after Man Utd secure top-four finish

Erik ten Hag has said the injury Antony suffered against Chelsea was ‘serious’ raising fears that the Manchester United winger may not be fit in time to face Manchester City in the FA Cup final next week.

Antony was taken off on a stretcher in the first half of United’s 4-1 win over Chelsea on Thursday night, with the three points ensuring the Red Devils will play in the Champions League next season.

The former Ajax man was on the receiving end of a strong challenge from Trevoh Chalobah and Antony immediately indicated to the bench that he could not continue while he also banged the turf in agony. Ten Hag stopped to commiserate the Brazilian as he made his way off the pitch and the United manager delivered a worrying update on Antony after the game.

“I don’t know [how serious the injury is],” he said. “Everyone has seen he came off. I can tell you that it’s serious but we have to wait minimum 24 hours and then we know probably more about the status of his injury.”

With Antony expected to miss out at Wembley, Ten Hag may have to start with a front three of Jadon Sancho, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford, the trio that played followng Antony’s substitution. Alejandro Garnacho is another option for Ten Hag but he hasn’t started since recovering from a recent ankle injury.

Lisandro Martinez, Donny van de Beek and Marcel Sabitzer are United’s only long-ter injury concerns going into the FA Cup final, although Luke Shaw also had to be replaced at half-time in the win over Chelsea.

Goals from Casemiro, Martial, Bruno Fernandes and Rashford saw United beat Frank Lampard’s men on Thursday, and move into third place ahead of the final round of Premier League fixtures this weekend.