Man United fans are slowly realising the importance of one player in Erik ten Hag’s system

Manchester United players are often scrutinised unless they’re performing at their best and sometimes absence is the only way for critics to realise what they are missing.

Antony has been missing from United’s last three games with injury and whilst the performances have certainly not been poor, there’s been certain things missing for Erik ten Hag’s side.

They are things that Antony brings to the team that are not always noticeable. That’s partly the reasoning behind the scrutiny the Brazilian has received since his summer move to Old Trafford. The £85 million price tag hasn’t helped either.

Ironically, with the winger away from the pitch, his ball retention, progression and out-of-possession responsibilities have got more recognition amongst the fanbase than when he was playing each week.

United teams in recent years have been allergic to the right side of the pitch and overly blatant in their favouritism to attacks from the left flank.

That was due to multiple factors – one being the shortage of any true right winger and another being the lack of a sustainable attacking plan when they managed to pen teams in their own half.

With Antony now, United have a player that provides that width on the right side of the pitch; stretching the opposition’s backline in the process. The winger is rarely dispossessed because he can protect the ball expertly under pressure and make sensible decisions in possession. Those decisions might not always be the excitable ones that fans love, but are the ones that the manager does.

Ten Hag wants his team to suffocate the opponent. Dominate games. The best way to do this is by sustaining pressure for prolonged periods, something that United have struggled with for a number of years.

Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes are phenomenal footballers, but also sometimes struggle to acknowledge the game state and tempo that the side should be playing with (although, both have improved in this aspect under Ten Hag). Antony’s ability to make things stick and link the play are valuable assets to this team.

Just as importantly, the Brazilian’s role out of possession might be even more important. Ten Hag’s pressing structure is Antony’s bread and butter after working under the Dutchman for two years at Ajax. You regularly see him talking to his teammates – particularly whoever is stationed at right-back – during or after a press.

He usually has one of the most complex roles when United are searching to regain possession. Positioned between an inside option and a wide player when pushed in the final third. His intensity helps him in this aspect.

Defensively, Antony has the best workrate of any of the wingers at the club – something mocked by many despite being a crucial element to the turnaround under Ten Hag – and has the bite in order to force turnovers or unsettle the opposition’s attack.

The problem with the winger has been his impact when finding himself up against a full-back. Predictable is the one word to describe his one-vs-one actions this season and his inability to utilise his right foot has only exacerbated this issue.

However, it’s quite clear that the 22-year-old is a player who thrives off relationships with his teammates. Link-up play and knowing when and where your teammates will make runs is massively important for his style of winger and the fact he’s been unable to build this relationship properly with either full-back has not helped his case.

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The big money move was always going to bring attention, especially as he was coming to Old Trafford, where the world zooms in on any potential issue. You could say that it’s a positive sign that the media are struggling to find more pressing concerns than a young player struggling in his first season in the Premier League.

Thankfully, more and more are beginning to realise the positive impact that Antony is already bringing to the table. There’s much more to come from him as his career with the club continues but the intangibles that he offers seem clear when they are not there.