Pundit voices concerns over direction West Ham ace has taken
Former Sheffield United and Leeds goalkeeper Paddy Kenny feels there is ‘something not quite right’ with Michail Antonio and has questioned the wisdom of his international ambitions.
Antonio, 31, has enjoyed a superb start to the season, with six goals from 10 outings in all competitions. Five of those have come in the Premier League and he continues to be a key player for the Hammers. The former Nottingham Forest star’s contribution has helped the East End outfit to seventh in the top-flight standings.
They have won two of their last three matches and are trending in the right direction following last season’s sixth-place finish. It was thought that David Moyes would buy a striker in the summer to support the Wandsworth-born ace.
But, despite many names being linked with the London Stadium, the Scot failed to land any of his targets. Nikola Vlasic was recruited but he is an attacking midfielder and has yet to find the net this term.
Therefore keeping Antonio fit and available is crucial to the club’s hopes. The ex-Sheffield Wednesday hitman pledged his allegiance to Jamaica in the summer.
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He made his debut in a 3-0 World Cup qualification defeat to Panama on September 5. And the Sun reported earlier this week that West Ham club doctor Richard Collinge travelled with Antonio to the Caribbean.
He was sent to monitor the player’s hamstring issues. Kenny believes it proves just how much the capital outfit rate their striker.
And he feels Antonio should think twice about playing for the Reggae Boys due to his importance to the Hammers.
“If he is struggling at all, he shouldn’t be going away,” he told Football Insider. “He should be staying in London until he is fully, 100 per cent fit. The last thing you need is to go on international duty and make your hamstring worse.”
Antonio vital to West Ham cause
Moyes continues to be linked to different strikers, with rumours he will look to sign one in January. But until then, the goalscoring onus will fall on Antonio – with a little help from Said Benrahma.
And Kenny is convinced that West Ham’s actions mean there is clearly an issue.
“By sending the doctor with him, they have shown have much they value him. But if he’s that valuable, surely he needs to stay here and rest up,” he added. “Travelling here, there and everywhere and then training and playing international matches is strange if he wants to stay fit.
“The fact that they’ve gone to those measures tells me there’s something not quite right.”
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