Amad can answer lingering Manchester United question vs Wigan Athletic

Antony is so starved of goals that he may be praying Erik ten Hag starts him against Wigan Athletic in Monday’s FA Cup tie.

The Brazilian has not scored or assisted in 21 matches this season and you have to go back to April to find the last time he found the net. He desperately needs a confidence boost but he’s had more than enough opportunity to break his eight-month duck, which may soon grow to nine.

Despite his horrid season, Antony - Manchester United's second-highest record transfer at £85m - will not be leaving anytime soon. There are more questions regarding the near future of fellow right winger Amad, but not for any ill reason.

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Amad only played his first competitive match of the season (and under Ten Hag) in last weekend’s 2-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest, where he replaced the ineffective Antony not 10 minutes after half-time.

The Ivorian mightily impressed while on loan at Sunderland last season, who look like they are somewhat missing his presence this campaign. His pre-season injury against Arsenal was rotten luck.

Perhaps for the first time in his career, he had built up consistent momentum and he’s now having to start from scratch again. It’s unsurprising that as a result he has not made his country's final squad for a home Africa Cup of Nations, but is a shame.

Or is it? The fact is, from a selfish United-only perspective, the Reds need someone to spark their attack into life during the second half of the season and Amad could be the answer, which is a nifty benefit of him missing AFCON.

But then again, he might not. Ten Hag only has a few weeks to decide what to do with Amad, which is why minutes - and probably a start