Antonio issue demands transfer window answer

Michail Antonio has not looked the same player (to me anyway) since he returned from his latest spell on the sidelines.

And I believe there is a very simple reason for that which sadly isn’t at all easy to solve.

David Moyes, understandably, has made it clear that he will need to nurse his hamstrings via a special programme and during games.

Sadly nursing is the key word and given the way Mikey has always played the game is possibly the problem in itself.

I say “possibly” – I actually believe probably is a better one – this is not a guy who can be asked to play at 80 or 90 per cent of his normal aggressive game.

He is at his best when fully at it – that’s the way he operates and at 31 years of age in March nothing is going to change much on the hamstring front.

It’s a problem and the reason I sway to the view of those who reckon we needed a back-up striker.

With the problem unlikely to go away – indeed possibly worsen as he gets older – truth is we probably need two n ew front men

I wait to be proven wrong and that Jesse Lingard – along with Said Benrahma – are some sort of answer but let’s remember the Manchester United attacking midfielder he is only on loan and will cost a few bob to bring in permanently should he prove a success.

Regardless of that dough will have to be found in the summer to find the answer to the Antonio problem.