Report: West Ham handed Antonio boost ahead of clash v Sheffield United
Michail Antonio will be fit enough for a place on the bench when West Ham take on Sheffield United after the international break, according to Claret and Hugh.
Antonio has missed the Hammers’ last two games through injury and it now looks like he will return earlier than expected.
Some reports suggested West Ham’s talisman could be out for more than six weeks [Daily Mail] but it is now being reported that he could make an appearance in the Hammers’ next game.
According to Claret and Hugh, a place on the bench for Antonio against Sheffield United is now ‘a realistic scenario’ which is news that will be music to the ears of Hammers fans.
Sebastien Haller has filled in during Antonio’s absence and he has proved why he is the second choice at the London Stadium after thoroughly underwhelming performances against Liverpool and Fulham.
Without Antonio, the Hammers didn’t have a focal point in their attack and struggled against a poor Fulham side in a game that should’ve been an easy win.
Tomas Soucek stepped up and scored the only goal of the game in the win against Fulham while Lukasz Fabianski was the hero at the other end, saving Adebola Lookman’s awful injury-time penalty.
Antonio could have a field day against the poor defence of Sheffield United if he gets some minutes against one of this season’s struggling teams. But David Moyes may not want to risk his star man if he doesn’t need to.
Speaking after the ex-Nottingham Forest man suffered his injury, Moyes was quoted by Football.London as saying: “He is so important to us.”
Hopefully, with Antonio back, the Hammers can look to recreate the quality of performances against Leicester and Wolves and ease to a decent win against Chris Wilder’s out-of-form Blades side.
In other West Ham news, here are our top three London Stadium moments.