Revealed: Why Antony missed Man Utd v Everton

Antony missed Manchester United’s trip to Goodison Park on Sunday as the winger picked up a knock and wasn't deemed to be match fit.

The Brazilian was a surprise omission from the matchday squad against Everton when the team's were announced an hour before kick-off.

The winger had fallen out of favour before the international break and wasn’t selected to start in any of the last two matches. But with Ramsus Hojlund missing through injury, many felt Antony could have been selected from the off against Everton.

Yet Erik ten Hag opted to start with a front three of Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Alejandro Garnacho on Merseyside. Between them, the trio have managed just one Premier League goal all season and the United boss backed to attackers to start finding the back of the net soon.

"I think every striker, in the moment, has a period that he is not scoring," the Dutchman said on Friday. "And then every striker starts to [over] think and when it happens, you know you were right and then you missed a moment because you have only a split moment.

"In the Premier League, Champions League, opponents defend so well, not only as individuals but as a team. You have to take benefit from that split moment to make it count that you have that half-a-yard split second and score a goal.”

Elsewhere, Luke Shaw was handed his first start on Sunday since the second week of the season, following his recovery from injury. Kobbie Mainoo also was selected in the starting XI  for the first time in the Premier League.