Manchester United won a behind-closed-door friendly against Barnsley at Carrington on Tuesday to try and build up the match fitness in some of the fringe players in the squad.
Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United ran out 3-0 winners against the EFL League One side, who sit third in their division.
The game, as mentioned, was a chance for the players who haven’t featured much this season, or who have been struggling with injuries, to feature.
The knowledge of the game that was played is limited but the Manchester Evening News has offered some information about the result.
Two United stars featured
According to the report, Donny Van de Beek and Antony, who came off the bench against Brentford, featured in the game.
The Dutch midfielder, whose time at the club is seemingly coming to an end, scored against the lower league side and you wonder if the former Ajax man has done enough to feature more prominently in Ten Hag’s plans.
Van de Beek has played just 21 minutes for United this season across two substitute appearances and had been expected to leave in the summer. He isn’t registered in the Champions League squad, either.
Antony is seemingly looking to build up his fitness after his absence from the side and will be hoping to start from the off against Sheffield United next Saturday.
Mainoo misses out
One player who did miss out, however, is Kobbie Mainoo. The 18-year-old midfielder suffered an ankle injury against Real Madrid in pre-season and it had been hoped the midfielder would return for this game but he sadly did not.
The teenager, despite his relative inexperience, has a lot of weight on his shoulders as his pre-season appearances have sent expectations around the 18-year-old sky-high.
However, the midfielder did not feature against the EFL League One side, although, according to the report, he has not suffered a setback, rather he is simply not ready to return yet.
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