Michail Antonio can have perfect West Ham United goodbye after Alan Shearer praise
Alan Shearer has heaped praise on West Ham striker Michail Antonio for his performance in the 1-1 draw with Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon.
The Hammers turned in a strong performance at the London Stadium with Jamaica international Antonio scoring and having another goal disallowed, although a late Nicolo Zaniolo goal meant the points were shared.
And when picking his team of the week for the official Premier League website (18 March), Shearer singled the veteran striker out as the only Hammers player to get the nod and praised him for his “excellent” goal.
“Pressed really well from the front, gave West Ham a focal point and scored an excellent diving header,” he said. “Unlucky not to have added another goal too as it went in off his arm.”
Rebirth of Michail Antonio at West Ham United
West Ham have had a really strange season on the pitch, with results being pretty good for the most part but performances increasingly underwhelming.
Part of that is certainly down to the fact that David Moyes has struggled for options in attack with Pablo Fornals and Said Benrahma struggling before they were sold, Maxwel Cornet always injured and Jarrod Bowen forced to play as a striker with Antonio and Danny Ings regularly unavailable.
But in recent weeks with Antonio fit again and playing, the team have looked much better for having a natural striker in the team and the other top attacking players in their best positions.
Antonio’s time at the club is seemingly coming to an end soon despite the fact he signed a new contract recently, but this stretch at the end of the season now could be vital to going on a positive.
His strong running, physical style and link-up play make him a perfect foil to those around him and with some huge games coming up his fitness could be key.
An exit looks likely due to his age and the fact another new striker will undoubtedly be targeted, but this is the perfect chance to say goodbye with a run of form that takes the team to another European place finish in the league and potentially another trophy.
In other West Ham news, Edson Alvarez has labelled one teammate “crazy” after what he did.
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