More struggles for Manchester United as they’re held by Championship side Hull in behind-closed-doors friendly… with Antony and Donny van de Beek among those given a run-out

• Erik ten Hag wanted game time for players not away on international duty
• Carrington match against the Tigers ended in a 1-1 draw on Tuesday
• It’s a three-team title race… Toney could lead Arsenal to glory: It’s All Kicking Off 

Antony and Donny van de Beek featured for Manchester United in a behind-closed-doors friendly on Tuesday – but they were unable to get the better of Championship Hull City.

Erik ten Hag wanted to get some minutes into the legs of United players not away on international duty this week as he looks to improve the team’s form after an inconsistent start this season.

The Manchester Evening News reported that a makeshift United side was fielded against the Tigers, mixing first-team players in need of action and academy talents.

They said the game ended in a 1-1 draw against Liam Rosenior’s side, who currently sit eighth in the Championship table.

£83million winger Antony has yet to register a goal or an assist in 12 outings for United this season and was overlooked for the latest Brazil squad for their 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina.

Erik ten Hag gave runouts to some of his Manchester United players not away with their countries in a behind-closed-doors friendly with Championship side Hull City

Antony (left) and Donny van de Beek (right) were among the United players who featured

The Tigers sit eighth in the Championship table, having beaten Huddersfield last time out

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Left on the bench during United’s 4-3 Champions League defeat to Copenhagen, he came on for the last 22 minutes of Saturday’s 1-0 Premier League win over Luton Town.

Dutch midfielder Van de Beek has played just 21 minutes of football this season having suffered a serious knee injury earlier in the year.

Those appearances came in the same week against Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup and then the Premier League.

Hannibal Mejbri also reportedly featured in the match at Carrington alongside youngsters including Joe Hugill, Toby Collyer and Willy Kambwala.

A number of former United academy players were invited to watch on.

Rosenior revealed he’d arranged the behind-closed-doors friendly against a ‘really top team’ after Hull beat Huddersfield in the Championship – but didn’t say it was United.

The Hull Daily Mail reported he was delighted with the workout and the experience his players gained as the Tigers looks to push on into the Championship play-off places.

Hannibal Mejbri also featured in the behind-closed-doors friendly game on Tuesday 

Joe Hugill was among a number of United academy players who featured in the friendly

United, meanwhile, face a trio of tough away fixtures when club football returns with Premier League visits to Everton and Newcastle United sandwiching a must-win trip to Galatasaray in the Champions League.

Despite suffering five league defeats so far, United sit sixth in the table, just five points off fourth.

However, Ten Hag’s team have exited the Carabao Cup and have lost three of their opening four Champions League group games to prop up the table.

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football, launching with a preview show today and every week this season.

It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube , Apple Music and Spotify

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