admin Manchester United beat Barnsley 3-0 in a friendly at Carrington on Tuesday, with several first-team players missing minutes against the League One club.
The behind-closed-doors match that saw United take on Barnsley was also full of fringe players, and it was the Premier League side who came away with comfortable victories.
Donny van de Beek and Antony both started the match, with Antony later strengthening his fitness before being able to return to the starting line-up against Sheffield United after the international break.
Antony missed just over two weeks of training after being given time off to respond to abuse allegations, which he strongly denies, and since returning to Carrington he has come off the bench substitute against Galatasaray and Brentford.
Van de Beek has played just 21 minutes for United this season in two substitute appearances and is expected to leave in the summer.He was not named in the Champions League squad but was said to be among those who scored against Barnsley.
Kobbie Mainoo was initially expected to feature, but his return to action was delayed after United’s coaches deemed it too early for him to play after such a long absence.
The 18-year-old has not played for United since suffering an ankle injury in the opening minutes of a pre-season defeat to Real Madrid, and the club’s coaches do not want to risk bringing him back again too soon.
