Resurgent Manchester United, who have just captured the signature of Brazilian winger Antony, face another away test on Thursday night when they travel to the East Midlands to face Leicester City at the King Power Stadium.
Antony’s signing will have Benni McCarthy, United newly appointed striker’s coach, smiling from ear to ear as this will hugely beef up the Red Devils’ attack after a rather sluggish start to the season.
United’s low-scoring form in the opening rounds must have been a serious concern for McCarthy, the former Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates striker. But he must be seeing light at the end of the tunnel and his team has scored four goals in as many matches and they are now slowly scaling up the league table.
Antony has 31 goals and 27 assists in 134 club appearances for Ajax and Sao Paulo, and two goals and two assists in nine senior appearances for his native Brazil.
He has won two Eredivisie titles and a gold medal in the 2020 Summer Olympics.
According to United’s website, Erik ten Hag’s side are looking to build on a positive end to August after adding Saturday’s 1-0 win at Southampton to their 2-1 home victory over Liverpool.
Those two victories have helped push the team to the top half of the Premier League table at this early stage of the season, ahead of a busy September in which they will play six games in 18 days before the international break.
United kept a first clean sheet of the campaign at St Mary’s Stadium and their defensive ranks have been boosted by the return of Victor Lindelof to training. The Sweden international has been injured in recent weeks, meaning he has yet to play in 2022/23.
It also remains to be seen whether Anthony Martial will be fit to return to the pitch. The forward missed out on a trip to the south coast having injured his Achilles during his 45-minute cameo against Liverpool last Monday.
Phil Jones, Facundo Pellistri, Axel Tuanzebe and Brandon Williams are also on United’s injury list.
The Foxes are waiting on the fitness of midfield playmaker James Maddison. The England international missed Saturday’s narrow 2-1 defeat at Chelsea as he felt a twinge in training in the lead-up to that game.
Brendan Rodgers has long-standing issues in the full-back areas, with right-back Ricardo Pereira being a month into a significant spell on the sidelines after he ruptured his Achilles a couple of days before the start of the season.
On the other side of the defence, Ryan Bertrand is still out injured. The former Southampton left-back has not played in 2022 due to a knee problem. – Manutd.com
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