Antonio the ‘beast’ driven by dual ambition

Michail Antonio has pledged to become the “beast” he was in his Forest days over the rest of the season and has revealed he’s being driven by a dual ambition.

He wants to see the Hammers flying but also has his eyes set on a World Cup place in the summer.

Speaking to the official website he said that some words from his former Forest boss, now Hammers No 2, Stuart Pearce had spurred him.

He said: “Stuart has pulled me aside and told me he doesn’t think I’m playing at my pinnacle and that, when he had me at Forest, I was unstoppable, but I’ve not shown him that since I’ve been here.

“I’ve had some injuries, but I told him ‘I am back now and I’ll become the beast that you had at Forest again’.

“I just need to steer clear of injuries. I got an assist against Watford, then came on and scored at Liverpool, so I’ll be looking to continue that over the last ten games of the season.”

He also spelled out his World Cup ambitions adding: “I want to be that player who comes in late and gets picked for England’s World Cup squad, as seems to always happen.

“It’s definitely a massive opportunity for me, as it is for all the English players in the Premier League.

“Now I’m back and I’m fit, I don’t want to rule myself out. I’m going to go out there and try to impress in any way that I can and take every opportunity I am given.

“I’m going to strive for it and hopefully I can get my name in the squad and be on that plane.”

 

 

 

About Hugh5outhon1895

Hugh Southon is a lifelong Iron and the founding editor of ClaretandHugh. He is a national newspaper journalist of many years experience and was Bobby Moore's 'ghost' writer during the great man's lifetime. He describes ClaretandHugh as "the Hammers daily newspaper!" Follow on Twitter @hughsouthon