Dean Saunders drools over West Ham striker Michail Antonio
Dean Saunders has suggested on talkSPORT that West Ham are not the same team without Michail Antonio.
The Jamaican striker has struggled in recent months to score, but Saunders feels he is still a “massive” player for the Hammers.
The 31-year-old has scored seven goals and provided five assists in all competitions.
Speaking live on talkSPORT, Saunders singled out the lack of a striker as a massive blow after he tested positive for COVID-19.
“I don’t think West Ham are the same team without Antonio. He is a massive player for them. He does all the chasing down, he is (a) nuisance on the break, he runs down the side, strong as an ox, gets goals,” he said.
Struggling
Antonio started the season strongly but he has struggled in recent months.
He last scored for the Hammers in the 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur back in October. It means he has now gone nine games without scoring for David Moyes’s side.
His recent performances against Arsenal, Burnley or against Manchester City haven’t been good either, where he failed to make an impact.
Saunders has rightly described his qualities, but he is going through a bad patch at the moment.
West Ham should look to bring in another back-up striker in January who can provide strong competition for Antonio.
At the moment, he is not only the first-choice striker but also the only centre-forward at the London Stadium.
Moyes has done exceptionally well to keep him fit and fresh. However, with no one threatening to take his place, Antonio’s form has suffered.
He is still a ‘massive’ player for the club, and West Ham fans will hope that he rediscovers his goal scoring form very quickly.
In other West Ham news, Hammers hopeful of star man being available for Southampton fixture.