(Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

You’ve gotta love Michail Antonio’s downright determination and bloody mindedness as he steps up his recovery process following a hamstring injury.

Every report we have received from the traning headquarters at Rush Green is that the 29 year old – and supreme optimist – is showing every sign that he will beat every forecast for a return.

And already he is ready to tell the club’s most impressive player of the moment maybe, Anriy Yarmolenko – that he’s after his position when hr does return to the fray.

Yarmo could hardly be in much better form but Antonio has already sent a message to him and the boss that once he returns he wants his favourite right sided role back.

Currently he is seen as an emergency , or back up striker, but it’s in the wide midfield role that he reckons we will see him at his best and that will keep the current occupant very much on his toes.

“It’s one thing that keeps me young, keeps me hungry and keeps me going, really, knowing that I’m always going to have to fight for my place,” Antonio told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“At the beginning of the season I was in, I was out, it was looking like I was going to be in the team, then I have done my hamstring. It would be boring if I played and then whenever I was fit I was available.

I feel I’d get more lackadaisical, I wouldn’t thrive, I wouldn’t play so well as when I go back in because I need to play well and score goals to keep my shirt and that will keep me going in my career.

“I want to play on the right wing. Me and Yarmo love each other and I’m buzzing for him. He’s one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet. He’s always happy and is a great guy. It’s one of those things where we’re always going to be fighting for a place and if it wasn’t him, it would be someone else.

“Before he got injured, he was scoring goals and doing what he is doing now. He had a massive injury, but he’s come back and picked up where he left off, basically.”