Erik ten Hag has sent a pointed message to Antony ahead of Manchester United’s League Cup clash with Barnsley on Tuesday night.

Antony is yet to start a Premier League fixture this term, with the Dutchman insisting the £86million forward has to ‘earn the right’ to be included in United’s starting XI.

On the Brazil international, Ten Hag said: “Tomorrow you will see what the line-up will be.

“We have training every day and the players have to earn the right. When the attitude is good and show performances in training, then they will play.”

Antony has featured just once for United all season – a one-minute cameo during the Red Devils’ injury-time defeat to Brighton last month.

Tuesday’s League Cup tie against League One Barnsley should provide Ten Hag the perfect chance to rotate his starting line-up and give minutes to those players who haven’t featured much this term.

But at least five United aces won’t be involved, with Luke Shaw, Rasmus Hojlund, Mason Mount, Leny Yoro and Victor Lindelof out of action.

On their availability, Ten Hag added: “Luke Shaw is progressing, but not yet ready to be selected.

”We have a plan in our head when he can be ready, but you’re always dependent on how the progress will go and you can’t think, you can’t make a suggestion, because there are so many factors, a plan can accelerate or slow down.

“They [Hojlund, Mount, Yoro and Lindelof] are not ready for tomorrow. We will see, our progress will continue. But I hope I have selection headaches. Last year I also had headaches, but there were no players available.

“I have many players available and we can make a selection from game to game, but definitely we have to rotate because we have to cover so many games. It’s a nice headache.”

The three-time European champions have enjoyed their League Cup campaigns in recent years, reaching the semi-finals in three of the last five seasons.

It was also the competition where Ten Hag secured his first trophy as United boss, beating Newcastle United United in the final 18 months ago.

United head into Tuesday night’s fixture heavy favourites against Barnsley, with Ten Hag crossing his fingers for another confidence-boosting evening’s work.

And on the importance of the League Cup, Ten Hag commented: “It’s about winning trophies but I don’t talk only about this, you guys are talking about how we have to win.

“So no doubt we’re aiming for a trophy and we take it seriously. I wouldn’t say they are insignificant, the FA Cup and 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, and I see all the teams battling for it.

“We want the same. In football, to win trophies is very and our aim is to win all the games if possible.”

United got their season back on track away to Southampton over the weekend, demolishing the south coast-based outfit with a stellar 3-0 triumph.

Goals from Matthijs de Ligt, Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho saw United to the three points, but there were still criticisms surrounding the performance.

The afternoon could’ve headed in a completely different direction when the hosts were awarded a penalty during a first half that saw United surrender several chances.

United’s clean sheet would be kept intact though, with Andre Onana matching Cameron Archer’s spot-kick with a strong save, providing the away side with a platform to go on and win the game.

The action gets underway from Old Trafford between United and Barnsley at 8pm on Tuesday night.