Michail Antonio delivers West Ham injury update live on air on Monday Night Football
Michail Antonio has issued an injury update live on Sky Sports, suggesting a return to the West Ham squad may not be far away.
The 33-year-old has been suffering from a knee injury since November and has not played a single minute for the Hammers since a 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest on 12 November 2023.
Jarrod Bowen has been the main replacement for the Jamaica forward, who was injured on international duty, but Antonio hinted that he will be back in action sooner rather than later.
“I’m not far off now. I’m back on the pitches so I should, hopefully, be back very soon,” he said live on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football (5 February, 6:35pm).
Huge boost for West Ham
The return of Antonio could be a timely boost for Moyes and his squad amid a downturn in form since the turn of the New Year.
The Hammers are without a win since their 2-0 victory over Arsenal at the end of December, feeling the pressure of having to play without Bowen, Lucas Paqueta and Mohammed Kudus.
Antonio was not having the best of returns prior to his injury but his availability offers David Moyes the opportunity to utilise a more out-and-out forward than either Bowen or Kudus.
He is brilliant at holding off defenders and keeping the ball close to his body, which allows the likes of Bowen, Paqueta and Kudus to get involved in attacks or launch the counterattack, a tactic employed heavily by Moyes.
West Ham still maintain a seventh-place spot in the Premier League, but with Brighton, Newcastle United and Wolves all lurking, the Hammers are in desperate need of more goals and more wins if they are to fight for a top-six finish.
Moreover, Antonio’s return is timely ahead of the resumption of the Europa League, a competition the Hammers are looking for glory in after winning the Europa Conference League last season.
In other West Ham news, Moyes has shared an update on his contract situation at the London Stadium
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