Scans have given West Ham a significant injury boost, as Michail Antonio should recover from an injury he sustained while playing for his country in less than a month.
After being called up to two prior England squads, Antonio made his Jamaican debut in 2021. On Saturday, barely 21 minutes into a 2-1 loss to Canada, Antonio sustained damage to his medial knee ligament.
There were real concerns that if the 33-year-old had suffered a major rupture, he might not be back until far into the New Year.
The Evening Standard claims that scans and medical evaluations conducted by West Ham officials after Antonio returned revealed he had just strained his ankle.
This is excellent news for Hammers manager David Moyes as the forward, who has three goals in 14 appearances for the Reggae Boyz, should be back in action within the next month.
Scans have given West Ham a significant injury boost, as Michail Antonio should recover from a knee injury he sustained while playing for his country in less than a month.
With 63 goals, Antonio is now West Ham’s all-time record Premier League goalscorer. He started the season strong, scoring twice in the first three games.
But recently, his play has declined, and Moyes has substituted Jarrod Bowen for him as a central striker, which has allowed Mohammed Kudus, a summer acquisition, to shine in offensive midfield.
Bowen’s withdrawal from the England squad prior to Monday’s match against North Macedonia gave the Hammers yet another injury scare.
Gareth Southgate, the manager of the Three Lions, said that this was merely a precaution and that there is no cause for alarm over the former Hull City player.
On Saturday, the Hammers go to Turf Moor to play Burnley, and Maxwel Cornet and Danny Ings, two former Clarets, should be in the running to lead the line.
Divin Mubama, a 19-year-old striker who is highly regarded, is an additional possibility. He played 35 minutes in three top tier substitute appearances in 2022–2023 and also made an appearance in the Europa League. Mubama scored eight goals in five games during the club’s FA Youth Cup victory the previous season.
Following their trip to Burnley, West Ham will travel to Serbia for a challenging Europa League matchup against Backla Topola. A victory there might guarantee their spot in the knockout stages.
Gareth Southgate, the manager of the Three Lions, said that this was merely a precaution and that there is no cause for alarm over the former Hull City player.
Nevertheless, Moyes’ resources will be tested in the run-up to the New Year as his team plays 11 games in 39 days in the Premier League, Europa League, and Carabao Cup. Antonio will be sidelined for the next month, and the club also sold Gianluca Scamacca during the summer.
Leave a Reply