McClaren stunned at Michail Antonio news at West Ham this week – ‘You’re joking?’
West Ham favourite Michail Antonio has taken great strides to get back to full health since being involved in a horror car crash five months ago.
Images of the car wreckage in the aftermath the crash last December left West Ham fans fearing the worst.
However, Antonio not only survived without any life-threatening injuries, he has also made clear he intends to return to the football field.
In a shock development in March, Jamaica manager Steve McClaren said Antonio could be back as early as the June international window.
And McClaren has now provided a further update on Antonio that has left even him in disbelief.
Antonio could be back on West Ham bench this weekend
Antonio‘s most recent game for West Ham was the 3-1 loss to Leicester City on 3 December. Little did he or anyone else connected to the Hammers know what would play out in the days following that.
The 35-year-old is due to be out of contract in the coming weeks, but there has been suggestions of Antonio being offered a new deal at the London Stadium.
As things stand, though, Sunday’s trip to Ipswich Town will be Antonio’s last as a registered West Ham player.
| Antonio | 2024-25 |
| Games played | 15 |
| Games started | 11 |
| Goals | 1 |
| Assists | 1 |
And in a shock twist, McClaren has now revealed Antonio could be part of the squad for that match at Portman Road.
“It’s unbelievable and shows the mentality of Michail that he has an accident in which he was lucky to survive,” McClaren is quoted as saying by Jamaica Observer (20 May).
“I’ve kept in touch since and I can’t believe it. I think February or March time I was speaking to him and he said, ‘Pencil me in for the Unity Cup,’ which we’ve got next week in the UK.
“I said, ‘You’ve got to be joking,’ but I spoke to him last week and I think he’s hoping to be on the bench for West Ham’s last game – which would be an unbelievably emotional day for Michail – so I hope he makes that and hope he gets fit.”
Antonio return would be massive for Potter
Antonio’s return to the matchday squad would come as a massive surprise to everyone, but it says it all about the fan favourite.
Whether that proves to be the case remains to be seen, but it will become clearer in the coming days when Graham Potter speaks to the press.
Potter is a man already under pressure at West Ham, and any positives that come his way rightly now are very much welcome.
Antonio’s return is definitely a positive, and now it is down to the West Ham board to decide whether he should be offered a new contract.