Antonio must reverse Jamaica bluesÂ
There is a very predictable pattern that has emerged at West Ham over the past two years. It’s a trend that sees Michail Antonio disappear for international duty only to re-emerge completely knackered.
It may be the increased number of games or, indeed, the jet lag that causes his lethargy. Whatever the reason, Antonio is next to useless upon his return to the London Stadium.
Antonio must reverse the habit of returning from international duty in poor form
Jamaica will host World Cup qualifiers against Canada on Thursday, November 17, in Kingston, before traveling north to Toronto for the return leg on Tuesday, November 21. Antonio is expected to travel back from Canada on Wednesday, which should leave him plenty of time to recover for Saturday’s trip to Burnley.
The forward has been dropped by David Moyes for the last two games and can ill-afford to return to West Ham in poor shape. With Mohammed Kudus facing a nightmare 15-hour journey from Comoros to England, Antonio can’t afford his usual period of acclimatisation.
The Premier League game against Burnley provides Antonio with the perfect chance to break back into the West Ham team. However, if his first match back from international duty mirrors previous returns, he may find himself out of favour completely.
Gonzo, I think this is something the club needs to resolve, not Antonio himself. Given that he’s in the twilight of his career, I have no problem with him accepting the invitiation to play for Jamaica whenever he gets the chance. I’m sure he does what he can to return in the best possible shape, but he’s not 20 anymore and it’s up to the club to recognise this and secure (the right) cover.
If only we had a young, hungry, free-scoring alternative who could step in…
“Antonio is next to useless upon his return to the London Stadium.” Ha ha, that’s funny. Antonio is next to useless even without the international away trip! Sorry, but it’s true, unfortunately. It’s a shame as he has been very good for the club but he’s better at talking on podcasts and putting his foot in his mouth these days.
And I like Mr Buddy Lurve’s closing comment above. Yes, if only we had Divin Mubama waiting to step in!