Insider ExWHUemployee has claimed that West Ham United striker Michail Antonio should be fit to play the club’s next game despite recent injury concerns.
While Premier League football had been put on pause as the winter World Cup took place in Qatar, it will soon return – with the Hammers back in action on Boxing Day.
Indeed, they travel to Arsenal and fans will be hoping David Moyes can take a full-strength squad to the Emirates Stadium. However, Antonio did miss the recent friendly match with Fulham due to a thigh issue sustained in training.
Understandably, there may be some concerns amongst the West Ham fanbase about the striker, but it sounds as though there is nothing to worry about, as he should recover in time to play some part against the Gunners.
Indeed, when talking on The West Ham Way Podcast, Ex said: “Antonio felt his thigh in training and the club didn’t want to risk him for a friendly game against Fulham, so they didn’t play him.
“But by all accounts, from what I’ve heard, as of two days ago, he should be available for the Arsenal game.”
TIF Thoughts on Michail Antonio and West Ham…
Antonio hasn’t been the most regularly called-upon forward this season for the Hammers. Indeed, he has started just six Premier League games (with a further eight substitute appearances), scoring just twice in that time.
However, teammate Gianluca Scamacca seemed to pick up an ankle injury in that friendly match against Fulham and is now a doubt for the clash with Arsenal himself.
With that in mind, the fitness of Antonio is suddenly all the more important and so it will be a huge boost for David Moyes if the 32-year-old is fully available for the game against the league leaders.