Julen Lopetegui to axe Michail Antonio at West Ham United amid Casemiro comparison

Michail Antonio cannot start the next match for West Ham after a shock statistic emerged from his below-par performance against Fulham.

Antonio was replaced at half-time of the Irons' 1-1 draw with Fulham on 14 September having made next to no impact in an attacking sense, strengthening calls for Julen Lopetegui to drop the veteran striker.

Jarrod Bowen's switch to the number nine role in the second half, as well as Danny Ings coming on late to snatch the equaliser, has given Lopetegui several other options to start up front instead of Antonio.

This sentiment was supported by George Simms for the I (16 September), who reported that Antonio, "didn’t manage a shot or a dribble in his 45 minutes on the pitch", and "has averaged as many shots per game in 2024-25 as Casemiro and Kyle Walker-Peters".

Julen Lopetegui has to take Michail Antonio out of the firing line

With a whole host of alternative attacking options as the Hammers host Chelsea next time out, Lopetegui cannot afford to risk the ire of the home fans by starting Antonio up front.

While Ings' late cameo at Craven Cottage has seen him throw his hat in the ring to be the Hammers' number nine, Bowen's move into the position brought a clear change in impetus on Saturday.

Crysencio Summerville's introduction from the bench – directly in place of Antonio – saw the ex-Leeds man produce some direct running and good link-up play, putting him in position to play from the off.

If Summerville does start with Lucas Paqueta also recalled, Lopetegui could field a front four absolutely littered with quality; Bowen leading the line ahead of Paqueta, Summerville and Mohammed Kudus.

That would certainly give Chelsea more to think about than Antonio's seemingly static presence around the 18-yard box, and with a poor performance to make up for, this is the change Lopetegui has to make.

In other West Ham news, Lopetegui's side are reported to be in “pending” negotiations for a brand-new free transfer in defence.

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