Credit: Imago

Dan Godfrey

Sun 17 November 2024 20:10, UK

West Ham United man Michail Antonio will miss Jamaica’s CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final second leg because he has lost his passport, Steve McClaren says.

The bizarre reason, reported on X by journalist Jon Arnold [17 November], means the Hammers striker will not have featured in either leg of the tie against the United States, after he served a one-match suspension for Friday’s 1-0 defeat [15 November].

National teammate Kaheim Dixon will also be unable to travel to St Louis for Tuesday’s [19 November] contest for the same reason.

Arnold’s post read: “Ethan Pinnock, Michail Antonio and Kaheim Dixon did not travel for the Reggae Boyz for the match against the USMNT.

“Antonio and Dixon ‘lost passports, it was too late to get new ones and to get visas to come over here, so they are missing,’ says Jamaica manager Steve McClaren.”

Michail Antonio forgetting passport favours West Ham

Whether McClaren’s reasoning is to be taken at face value with two of his Jamaican players missing their passports, that’s one story.

But whatever theories one may have, the Irons will benefit from the rest Antonio is forcibly taking.

The 34-year-old was given the nod by McClaren despite having to serve his suspension after receiving two bookings in the CONCACAF Nations League previously, but his imminent return is now dashed, rendering him fresh for the Hammers.

And it’s needed, too. Julen Lopetegui is enduring a tough time of it and needs his attacking talent in prime sharpness, especially with Niclas Fullkrug’s injury continuing to provide uncertainty.

Antonio will need his passport issue solved in order to return to Rush Green, ready to be heavily relied upon by his head coach as the Premier League returns.

In other West Ham news, a transfer move gathers potential which would see a Hammers stalwart pushed out.

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