Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag was pleased that Antony could show "end product" during Sunday's FA Cup fourth-round contest with Newport County.
The 23-year-old entered the clash at Rodney Parade with no goals and no assists in 22 appearances for the Red Devils this season, and his future at the club has been called into question over the last couple of weeks.
Antony set up Bruno Fernandes for Man United's first on Sunday, though, before he netted in the second period to send the Red Devils back ahead.
The goal was the Brazil international's first since April 2023, and Ten Hag praised the attacker for his contribution to the 4-2 success over Newport, which saw the Premier League side advance to the fifth round of the FA Cup.
"I think Antony got the assist for the first goal for Bruno, and a goal. So end product is what we demand from him and also the rest of his job," Ten Hag told reporters.
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"It should have been proper and that was, today, the case. I think it was, for many players today, they did their jobs. They co-operated well and acted as a team, with good spirit.
"In the first 25 minutes, on our side, we were very good and controlled the game. We had the possession and were really controlling it very good. We scored two very good goals and were creating one, two or three more, and it could have been 3-0 or 4-0.
"Out of nothing, actually they scored a goal. Then, straight after half-time, they scored another goal and I have to criticise the team for that. Then we start all over and showed character and resilience, fought back and got the third and fourth goal.
"We controlled the game but maybe we were a little bit slower than we were. We had chances to make it 3-0, [Alejandro] Garnacho on the crossbar with two players in front of the goal. We had some shots from Antony as well. We had very good chances and they had nothing really, it was out of nothing they scored a goal."
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Ten Hag also explained the importance of the match from a fitness point of view, with Casemiro, Luke Shaw and Lisandro Martinez all back in the XI after overcoming recent injuries.
"We use these games to let some players return - like Casemiro, like [Luke] Shaw, like Licha Martinez. Therefore, I think it was a very good game as they need this rhythm to start going to higher levels," he added.
"We had minutes in the week, [in a behind-closed-doors friendly] against Burnley, now they have more minutes and that is what they need. When you go into the Premier League, higher intensity and higher levels, that is what is required and I think this game will help them."
Antony will be bidding to keep his spot in the side for Thursday's Premier League clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers, but he could face competition from Marcus Rashford if the forward is available.
Rashford missed out against Newport through illness, according to the club, but he was pictured out in Belfast on Thursday evening before being absent from training on Friday, and Ten Hag said that he would "deal with" the "internal matter".
Matt Law
