Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has said that he is pleased with Antony's recent "progress" but will continue to "challenge" the Brazil international to improve.

The 22-year-old has been a regular for the Red Devils since his arrival from Ajax over the summer, making 21 appearances in all competitions, contributing five goals and one assist in the process.

Antony's recent performances have been under the microscope, with the attacker's end product called into question by a number of critics.

However, the forward came up with his first assist of the campaign against Reading in the FA Cup on Saturday evening, with the Brazilian playing a leading role in Man United's 3-1 win.

Ten Hag has vowed to continue to "challenge" Antony, with the Dutchman certain that the big-money arrival from Ajax will prove to be an important player for the club in the years to come.

"I have some longer experience with him [with Ajax] and we have to challenge him, and if you challenge him, he can adapt, he can adjust his game, and that is what we have to do, definitely," Ten Hag told reporters after the win over Reading at Old Trafford.

"He has to be more variable, more dynamic. But also, he needs his teammates around him, but also how to use your teammates.

"He has to work on that and he's investing in this moment in it and you see the progress. But still, I think there is still a lot of room for improvement there."

Speaking ahead of last week's EFL Cup semi-final first leg with Nottingham Forest, Ten Hag admitted that Antony "can do better".

"When he's playing, the team is winning. That already gives a message of how well he is performing," Ten Hag told reporters.

"He can do better, I see space for improvement. For instance, and I think also you know this, we want him to be more direct and be more involved. But, as I said, the team is performing better if he is on the pitch.

"That's a good thing, that's a good base to build further. I think he has already made an improvement. In his first three [league] games, he scored three goals.

"Now he was scoring against Everton, he was scoring against Charlton, so also that fact, he has an impact. But I think with his capabilities, with his talents, he can do even more. But as I said, I think he has [made] a good contribution in the team."

Antony managed 24 goals and 22 assists in 82 appearances for Ajax before his move to the 20-time English champions in the latter stages of the summer transfer window. body check tags ::