Michail Antonio is back running – less than three months after cheating death in his horror car accident.
The West Ham forward was rushed to hospital on December 7 with a lower leg fracture after his Ferrari veered off road and collided with a tree in Epping, Essex.
When images first emerged of the wreckage, many – including staff at the club – were left fearing the worst but following a 12-day warm-weather training camp in Dubai, Antonio has already made notable strides in his recovery.
Hammers boss Graham Potter revealed ahead of his side’s trip to Arsenal: “He’s going well, he’s been out in Dubai so I think it’s been good for him to get that work in.
“I think that’s a really good phase of the rehabilitation for him. As far as I know from all the reports from the medical guys, it’s moving in the right direction. It’s a case of not rushing that one but certainly it’s positive.
“It’s just more about slowly getting back onto the pitch, more pitch-based stuff but in probably a slightly warmer environment than Rush Green in February.”
Antonio, who was forced to undergo surgery on his injury, has been jogging whilst also completing gym work. Sprinting, jumping and ball work are understood to be the next phases of his rehabilitation.
Potter, however, refused to put a timeframe on the 34-year-old’s return and while the attacker’s contract at the London Stadium is due to expire at the end of the season, West Ham do have a one-year extension option.
He responded when asked when Antonio will return to full training with the group: “I wouldn’t be thinking anything this side of the international break for sure.
“As I said, with the severity of the injury and the incident, the most important thing is that he takes the space and time that he needs with the medical people. Then Mick being Mick, as soon as he feels ready, he’s going to be ready.”
While Potter is yet to work with Antonio, the way in which the Jamaica international handled the whole ordeal has left a real impression upon his new head coach. The ex-Chelsea and Brighton boss concluded: “Everything was impressive, to be honest. But the fact that he just recognised the situation, the incident, the severity of it and was able to reflect on that in a human way, not in a footballer way, was particularly impressive.
“Obviously, when you go through something like that and God forbid we never do, it gives you a sense of perspective that maybe you can think about. But it’s only until something like that happens that you really gain that perspective.”
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