Michail Antonio begins next stage of rehab after West Ham star broke his leg in terrifying car crash
MICHAIL ANTONIO is jetting out to Dubai today to step up his rehab following his shocking car crash in December.
The West Ham striker, 34, required surgery on a broken leg after a the smash in his £260,000 Ferrari which saw him airlifted to hospital.
Antonio was discharged before Christmas and former Hammers manager, Julen Lopetegui, said he expected him to be able to play in the Premier League again.
The Jamaica international has visited the club's Rush Green training ground on a few occasions since new boss Graham Potter took charge.
And now he is moving onto the next stage of his recovery, with nearly a fortnight at a training facility in Dubai.
Antonio flies out today and will return to London on February 20.
READ MORE SPORT STORIES
The striker is currently out of contract at the end of the season, though the club are weighing up whether or not to extend his deal in order to cover the full recovery.
A decision on all new contracts, with Vladimir Coufal's deal also up in the summer, will be made towards the end of the season.
Fellow stricken striker, Niclas Fullkrug, has also been working in Dubai in order to aid his recovery from a hamstring injury suffered in Potter's first game in charge.
The Hammers are struggling with injuries across the pitch, which has not aided Potter's start to his new job.
CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS
Captain Jarrod Bowen returned from injury in the defeat to Chelsea this week.
But Crycensio Summerville, Lucas Paqueta, Edson Alvarez and Jean-Clair Todibo were all absent as well as Fullkrug and Antonio.
Michail Antonio’s incredible rise
By Jon Boon
The outpouring of love from the football community for Michael Antonio has been massive, with the striker recognised as a big character in the game.
The Wandsworth-born forward started from humble beginnings - playing for non-league Tooting & Mitcham United.
After impressing in 2008, he was offered a trial at Reading - some five divisions up - and Alan Pardew duly snapped him up.
However, he later revealed he got kicked out by Tooting, after he refused to sign a contract.
Antonio said: "They kicked me out because I refused to sign a contract.
“I was like: ‘If someone comes in for me I don't want to be tied down. I want to be able to go and not you out price me’."
Following spells at Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest, in 2015 he was plucked from the Championship in a £7million deal by West Ham.
He's been there ever since, winning a player of the year award, twice being named Premier League player of the month and lifting a European trophy.
Away from football, Antonio has bravely opened up about his mental health struggles in recent times.
The Jamaica international was recently asked by Gary Lineker on the Rest is Football podcast what he would like to do when he retires from the game.
He revealed: "I want to go into entertainment.
"So more on the basis of A League of Their Own, Play to the Whistle…"
Read more about Michail Antonio's incredible rise and life away from the game.