ExWHUemployee has claimed that West Ham United duo Michail Antonio and Angelo Ogbonna may be fit enough to start in the club’s next game.
Last time out, the pair had to settle for a spot on the bench as David Moyes’ team took on Southampton away from home in the Premier League. The forward was afforded a few minutes as a substitute, but the defender went unused in the game that ended in a 1-1 draw.
Antonio has been suffering of late with a recent illness that has also affected West Ham centre-back Kurt Zouma, while Ogbonna has been struggling due to concerns over a tight hamstring (via football.london).
And so, while they were fit enough to be in the squad for the Saints clash, they clearly weren’t deemed ready to start. However, against Liverpool this week, that may change.
Indeed, while speaking on The West Ham Way Patreon, Ex said: “Despite being on the bench against Southampton it was felt that both Antonio and Ogbonna were not fully fit so three days down the line might mean they have more of a chance of coming into the starting eleven now.”
TIF thoughts on Michail Antonio and Angelo Ogbonna and West Ham…
Regardless of his fitness, Antonio may not necessarily have been starting in recent weeks due to the form of new striker Gianluca Scamacca who has started the last three league games, scoring twice.
Should Michail Antonio start for West Ham today?
Yes
No
However, with the fixtures coming thick and fast, Moyes may feel the need to rest some of his players and rotate some fresh legs into his side – and so Antonio may well return to the team.
Seeing as Zouma has also been ill of late, Ogbonna’s return to the West Ham side may also be greatly anticipated in the midst of all this fixture congestion. The Italian has been limited to just two league outings so far this term.
It certainly will be a big boost for the club if the duo were both ready to start against Liverpool at Anfield.