Antonio exit may be on hold after Carroll injury

Andy Carroll’s not unexpected injury issue may have thrown a different perspective on Michail Antonio’s position at the club.

It’s been widely speculated that the former Hammer of the Year will be on his way this summer with Palace favourites to grab him.

But the Carroll news means that we are now down to two strikers in Arnie and Chicharito with of course just Jordan Hugill available should Antonio be shipped out.

One injury to either of the two front line forwards and we start to look as thin as it gets so we have to wonder whether Antonio’s future does indeed lie away from the club as has been suggested.

With Carroll expected to be out for three months it seems folly at this stage to consider or take for granted that he will be going anywhere.

Obviously under this manager we are going to play a different way and goals will be expected of wing men Anderson and Yarmolenko.

But it would surely be a mistake – with the club now at the upper end of their spending limit for the summer – to allow a player of Antonio’s versatility in different positions to move on and look for another striker.

It will also be interesting to see whether the new boss has seen something in young Jordan Hugill during the Switzerland pre-season given the circumstances.

COYI