Michail Antonio is pleased with the progress he’s making after a difficult return from a long injury.
He looks certain to play a part in today’s match at St Mary’s and declared: “I’m starting to get my sharpness back now and I’m enjoying my football again.”
He told www.whufc.com he’s not enjoyed his recent experiences but adds: “One thing in football is that everything is quickly forgotten
It’s week-by-week. You can be one of the best players one week, but the next week you could be the worst, and that’s exactly how it is.
“At the start of the season, I wasn’t playing well and wasn’t scoring, but I’ve now scored two and people think ‘Oh, he’s back, he’s a player again!’.
“It’s just part and parcel of the game and you have to make sure you turn up week-in, week-out.”
Image via www.whufc.com
Antonio is strong minded but knows other players may struggle saying: “We’ve seen mental health get so big in football over the last couple of years because there is massive stress in the game where you constantly have to be your best and, when you’re not being your best you’ve got people telling you you’re not good enough,” he said.
“You’ve got to pull yourself out of that, be that person or have people around you to get you out of your hole. Imagine you have a bad day and having thousands of people around you telling you you’re terrible and you need to give up, digging you further into a hole.
“Those are the things where mental health in football is massive and mental health is key and that’s why the PFA are starting to realise the steps they need to take to help professional footballers.
“Like I said, people are putting you in a hole and you’re also putting yourself in a hole because you’re a professional and you want to be the best you can, so when you’re not doing that, you’re putting yourself there and other people are getting onto you.”
Claret and Hugh says: First, let it be said: It’s great to see Michail coming back to his best. He is accused of having poor touch and not being a passer but he is a total handful on the run and to see him recovering his pace, appetite and fitness is a great boost for the club. It’s not good, however, that he needs to discuss such issues of the mental pressures on players who in the social media age suffer like never before. He’s right to address it but it remains sad that he has to do so. There can be no question that the pressure brought about by such outlets where anybody can say whatever they want and heap even more pressure on struggling players. Part of the territory now I suppose but good that he’s an over comer and making it clear that despite all the speculation about a possible move in the winter he is likely to remain a Hammer.We need wholehearted performers like him and Snoddy big time.