Andy Hinchcliffe slams Michail Antonio first-half moment in West Ham v Newcastle United
Andy Hinchliffe branded West Ham centre-forward Michail Antonio “selfish” during the first half of Sunday’s Premier League clash against Newcastle United.
The Irons kicked off their league campaign with a trip to face Steve Bruce’s side at St James Park on Sunday afternoon, and made the worst possible start after Callum Wilson nodded the home side in front in the fifth minute.
Aaron Cresswell levelled the scores 13 minutes later, but in between the goals ex-Everton defender Hinchcliffe was critical of 31-year-old Antonio after failing he failed to find fellow forward Jarrod Bowen.
Speaking during Sky Sports‘ live broadcast of the match, Hinchcliffe said: “He’s slightly selfish there Michail Antonio, it is a good turn but Jarrod Bowen had made an excellent forward run ahead of him.
“At times that will have to happen when Antonio drops deep, the attacking midfielders have to make runs beyond him and really Antonio should have played Bowen in.”
All on Antonio
Antonio has been an instrumental figure for West Ham since joining from Nottingham Forest in 2015.
He has been converted from a winger into a striker and has picked up the number nine jersey for the new season.
The club’s inability to sign a new centre-forward since Sebastien Haller left the London Stadium in January has really laid bare his importance to the Irons.
Antonio is currently the only senior centre-forward at the club and keeping him injury-free for a large part of the season is crucial.
He offers so much to David Moyes’ side with his all-action displays integral to how the team operates.
The Englishman doesn’t just score goals – as well as scoring ten times during the 2020/21 campaign, he also chipped in with five assists.
He’s certainly not a selfish player in general, but perhaps he does display that trait on occasions, such as at Newcastle today.
But all strikers need a bit of greed in them, and we wouldn’t change Antonio’s game for anything.
In other West Ham news, the club have made an approach to sign this ex-Irons trialist from a Premier League rival.
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