West Ham United insiders share brand new Michail Antonio update amid ‘bad’ first team development
West Ham United striker Michail Antonio could be fit and available to face Fulham on Sunday 10 December, according to Claret & Hugh.
The reliable Hammers journalists (7 December) share that the Jamaican international has been recovering from a knee injury and could be available for selection against the Cottagers.
However, “insider” sources have revealed that there are no guarantees Antonio will win his place back in David Moyes’ team and Jarrod Bowen will remain their go-to man up front for the foreseeable future.
“There was bad news for Antonio out of West Ham last night.
“The No. 9 has been recovering from a knee injury he picked up on international duty and could even be ready as early as the weekend for the match against Fulham.
“However, that is nowhere near a given according to backroom insiders at the club. And we have been told this morning that even should he be ready there are no guarantees whatsoever that he will get his place back.”
Doesn’t deserve place
West Ham United are under something of a number nine curse right now with both Antonio and Danny Ings struggling under the weight of expectation in leading the line for Moyes.
Youngster Divin Mubama has emerged as an outside bet, especially considering his ongoing contract talks at the London Stadium but recent displays have suggested he isn’t ready to lead the line consistently.
It is why Moyes has been forced to deploy Bowen up top and it’s a decision that has worked up to a point but certainly isn’t sustainable in the long-term.
Whether West Ham United will have the funds available to sign a striker in January is very uncertain right now but even if Antonio is fit and ready for the weekend, he doesn’t deserve to start games right now.
The Jamaican international had been in terrible form before the injury suffered during the international break in November, failing to score a Premier League goal since their win over Brighton back in August.
Yes, the Hammers need a dominant presence to compliment their attack up top but Antonio’s displays have left a lot to be desired. His current status as a “key” player under Moyes certainly doesn’t warrant him a starting place.
In other West Ham news, a Sky Sports pundit was stunned by what one Hammers ace did in the first half of the recent Premier League clash against Crystal Palace.