Michail Antonio keen to ‘break the cycle’ ahead of West Ham United v Nottingham Forest
West Ham striker Michail Antonio has scored only two goals in his last 16 games in all competitions, and he feels that it’s time for him to “break the cycle”.
The Hammers will face Nottingham Forest in a crucial Premier League game on Saturday (25 February), and Antonio believes that “lightning will strike twice”, as he looks to score against his former club.
While the 32-year-old striker is desperate to return among goals, David Moyes could actually drop him from the starting line-up. According to a report from the Daily Mail, January signing Danny Ings is in line to make his first start for the club.
“It’s not just a scoring goals as a striker, it’s the hold-up play and a number of other things that I’ve been bringing to the game in the last few games,” said Antonio to the club’s official website.
“But as a striker, you always want to score and the last goal I scored was against Derby, but I’ve not scored for a while in the Premier League. I need to break the cycle, I need to get that goal so I can go on a run and help lift this team out of the situation we are in.
“I scored some important goals to keep us up in 2020 and I believe lightning will strike twice. I know I’ve got the ability to do it, I know I can do it. I feel like my hold-up play is doing well and that’s why I’m getting opportunities. I’m helping to bring the team together, I’m creating chances for other people, so it’s just getting those chances for myself. But if we keep playing well then the opportunities will come and that’s what I believe in.”
Three points
The Hammers need to bounce back to winning ways, and it’s a massive game for them.
David Moyes’ side lost 2-0 against Tottenham in their previous game, and the Hammers boss is under some kind of pressure to keep his job safe.
Although there are suggestions that West Ham are unlikely to appoint any new manager at the moment, another defeat on Saturday would really put pressure on Moyes.
Survival is at stake now, and they need a series of wins to lift them from the relegation zone.
Antonio has been a great player for the club and for a long time, he carried the onerous burden of scoring all by himself. But, he has underperformed badly this season, which has come as a bit of a surprise.
Against Forest, he will be inching to score against his former club, but Moyes could start with Ings instead. Gianluca Scamacca, the big-money summer signing, is also back in training, and Moyes now has options ahead of this big game.