Erik ten Hag defends Man Utd transfer record and explains why £82m Antony is struggling

Erik ten Hag has defended his Manchester United transfer record and said his team will be back to their best once key players return from injury.

Ten Hag has spent £400million since taking over at United, but this season they have regressed against a backdrop of long-term injuries to key players and some high-profile off-field disciplinary issues. Casemiro, Christian Eriksen, Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw are all set to return to the squad for Sunday's visit of Tottenham to Old Trafford, giving United and Ten Hag a huge boost.

Jadon Sancho's United exile has ended with his return to Borussia Dortmund on loan, following his spectacular fall-out with Ten Hag, who is confident another winger, £86million signing Antony, will deliver on his inflated fee, despite failing to register a single goal or assist this season.

Rasmus Hojlund, signed from Atalanta for £72m last summer, has scored just once in 15 Premier League appearances and failed to find the net in Monday's 2-0 FA Cup win at League One Wigan, wasting a series of chances. Sunday's game is United's first in the Premier League this year, with Ten Hag keen to draw a line under a dismal first half of the season which has seen his side lose nine times and slump to eighth in the table.

Defending his signings against accusations United have overspent on mediocre players, Ten Hag said: “I know everything is highlighted more at the moment, because the performances aren't there. “But don’t forget, last season everyone was saying how the signings for Manchester United were very good because, as a team, we performed.

“Everyone was saying how great Martinez was doing, everyone was telling me Eriksen was a top signing. Tyrell Malacia? Very smart. Then we had Antony, who was doing