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• Antony in contention for Manchester United return against Galatasaray

  Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag confirmed Antony could return in the Champions League clash against Galatasaray amid police inquiries into allegations of abuse against him.

  The 23-year-old was given a leave of absence by the club last month to deal with the allegations that the winger has always strongly denied.

  Antony returned to the UK from Brazil last week and attended a voluntary interview with Greater Manchester Police, with United saying on Friday that he was back available for selection.

  The winger returned to training on Saturday and could feature against Turkish champions Galatasaray at Old Trafford, a month on from his last appearance at Arsenal.

  “Antony will be in consideration, but yesterday was his first time back in team training,” United boss Ten Hag said.

  “We have a final training (session) and then we make a decision, but he will be in consideration, yeah.”

  Antony is facing several accusations of physical aggression towards his former girlfriend Gabriela Cavallin, who spoke to Brazilian outlet UOL earlier this month.

  The winger has denied those allegations, as well as further assault claims made by Rayssa de Freitas and Ingrid Lana.

  Cavallin is reportedly set to speak to police later this week and Ten Hag was asked what Antony’s return to the squad says to victims of domestic violence.

  “So, he cooperated fully,” the United boss said, having not heard the initial question. “It came out he’s not charged, so…”

  Antony is back involved, but fellow attacker Jadon Sancho remains banished from a first-team squad beset by injuries.

  Full-backs Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia and Sergio Reguilon are out, while Amad Diallo and Kobbie Mainoo have been unable to feature this season.

  Now key centre-back Lisandro Martinez is facing up to three months on the sidelines.

  The Argentina international underwent surgery after sustaining a fractured metatarsal in April’s Europa League quarter-final first leg against Sevilla.

  Martinez returned to action this term, but an aggravation of that foot injury means he again has to go under the knife at a key point of the season.

  “I can confirm Licha Martinez will have to undergo surgery,” Ten Hag said. “So, the team news is probably Antony dos Santos can return.”

  United head into Tuesday’s match in desperate need of a win, not only due to losing their Champions League opener 4-3 at Bayern Munich but because of Saturday’s meek 1-0 loss to Crystal Palace.

  That Old Trafford defeat brought them back down to earth with a bump after much-needed back-to-back wins, putting them under intense pressure and scrutiny once again.

  “Of course we are disappointed about the result,” Ten Hag said.

  “Then you have to analyse the game, where were the problems, then you have to move forward, but also give solutions for the problems.”

  Ten Hag believes “the team is moving forward” despite the results, saying there are positives among the negatives.

  Marcus Rashford’s performances have been among United’s issues, having scored just once after a campaign in which he plundered 30 goals in all competitions.

  “The facts are that he is not scoring in this moment, but also he had the opportunities,” Ten Hag said of the misfiring England international.

  “I think, for instance, in the game against Brighton, there were five or six occasions when he was in a very good spot.

  “If he works hard and if he invests every day, goes into every game with the right focus and if the team also around him supply him, help him and support him with movement then it will come.

  “Then Marcus Rashford is a player who is capable of always scoring goals in every game and when he’s coming in the right spots he will score.”

• Tottenham ‘disgusted’ by online racist abuse of defender Destiny Udogie

  Tottenham have condemned the racist abuse received by defender Destiny Udogie following Saturday’s home Premier League win against Liverpool.

  Udogie, 20, was the target of several racist slurs on social media following Tottenham’s controversial 2-1 home victory after being involved in Liverpool forward Diogo Jota’s dismissal.

  Jota was shown two yellow cards for two separate second-half challenges on the Tottenham left-back within the space of a minute.

  Tottenham said on their official website: “We are disgusted at the racist messages directed towards Destiny Udogie on social media following Saturday’s game against Liverpool.

  “We will work with the Premier League and, where possible, take action against any individual we are able to identify. We stand with you, Destiny.”

  Tottenham won the game 2-1 thanks to Joel Matip’s stoppage-time own goal after Cody Gakpo had cancelled out Son Heung-min’s first-half opener.

  Liverpool defender Curtis Jones was shown a straight red in the first half after VAR intervention for a foul on Yves Bissouma and the visitors were incensed when Luis Diaz’s opening goal was incorrectly ruled out for offside.

  PGMOL later issued a statement admitting that a “significant human error” had taken place by VAR officials in their decision not to award the goal.

• Hasenhuttl, McInnes or Marsch – who could be in contention for Rangers post?

  Rangers are searching for a new manager following the sacking of Michael Beale on Sunday.

  Here the PA news agency takes a look at some of the candidates who may be given consideration by the Ibrox hierarchy.

  Kevin Muscat

  The 50-year-old former Australia defender – who played for Rangers in the 2002-03 season – is currently flourishing in charge of Japanese club Yokohama F. Marinos after succeeding the Celtic-bound Ange Postecoglou in the role in the summer of 2021. Won the Japanese league title last year and his team are currently second, four points off the top with five games to play.

  Jesse Marsch

  As part of the Red Bull group, the 49-year-old American came to prominence when he led Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg – who had Erling Haaland in attack in his first season in charge – to two consecutive league and cup doubles. Renowned for his high-intensity approach, Marsch earned a crack at the Leeds job in February 2022 following the sacking of Marcelo Bielsa and ensured they stayed in the Premier League, but a poor start to his first full season at Elland Road led to him being sacked back in February. Was interviewed about vacancies at Southampton and Leicester earlier this year but remains out of work.

  Kjetil Knutsen

  The 54-year-old Norwegian has made a name for himself after establishing Bodo/Glimt as one of the top teams in Norway since taking charge in 2018. Led them to their first-ever title win in 2020 and followed up the feat a year later. Currently a point clear at the top of the Eliteserien after 23 games. Has also overseen some impressive European runs over the past three seasons, most notably in the 2021/22 campaign when Bodo/Glimt reached the quarter-finals of the Conference League after defeating Postecoglou’s Celtic 5-1 on aggregate.

  Ralph Hasenhuttl

  The Austrian, 56, is still out of work after losing his job at Southampton a year ago following a poor start to last season. Landing the highly-regarded former RB Leipzig manager would be viewed as something of a coup for Rangers.

  Derek McInnes

  The 52-year-old former Rangers midfielder turned down the Ibrox job in 2017 while he was on a long and fruitful stint in charge of Aberdeen. Following his departure from Pittodrie, McInnes has done an impressive job with Kilmarnock, leading them from the Championship and re-establishing them in the top flight. He has already overseen victories over both Glasgow sides this season. Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers endorsed him as a potential Ibrox boss in August. “He was very close to getting the Rangers job a few years ago and why couldn’t he manage Rangers?” said Rodgers. “He’s a former player there, a very good player, who was part of a successful era for the club so there’s no doubt that could be one for him in the future because he’s an outstanding manager.”