West Ham star Michail Antonio facing SIX WEEKS on the sidelines as he sweats on hamstring strain
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MICHAIL ANTONIO could be out for up to six weeks with the hamstring injury that has curtailed his promising start to the season.
The powerful West Ham forward will have a scan on Thursday to reveal the full extent of the damage suffered when he pulled up lame just six minutes into Tuesday’s Carabao Cup win at Newport.
Antonio immediately signalled to be substituted and limped off the pitch helped by Hammers medical staff in a big blow to the club’s front line.
Club staff are hoping for positive news and the looming international break from the Premier League gives one of West Ham’s key players breathing space in his recovery.
Antonio has figured in all three of West Ham’s Premier League matches so far this season and is a big favourite with the fans.
His fit-again team-mate Jack Wilshere says playing at grounds like Newport’s hostile Rodney Parade are what drives him forward on the road to recovery.
The midfielder scored his first goal for West Ham in Tuesday’s 2-0 win to cap his comeback from a lengthy ankle problem.
Wilshere said: “What keeps you going is coming to places like this. Playing games. You can’t beat that game experience.
'UNBELIEVABLE'
"The feeling of that in the back of your mind is unbelievable. I want to play as many minutes as possible.
“Being the player I am, if I don’t have the kind of impact on a game like I did at Newport I wouldn’t be happy.
"I am a creative player, we have a lot of creative players here. You have to perform each week if you want to stay in and around it.”
Wilshere admits that, as much as he loves playing games, West Ham’s main aim to swerve next season's Carabao Cup second round because it will mean the club has qualified for Europe.
He said: “That’s the aim I suppose but we have to take each game as it comes. The Premier League is unforgiving. A lot of teams are capable of getting into Europe now.
“We have a lot of belief in the team we can possibly get into Europe or win a cup, the Carabao Cup or the FA Cup. Have a right go and try to win a trophy for the fans because it has been a long time since this club has won a trophy.
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“We have a lot of creativity on the wing, in the middle and there is a lot of competition.
"As good as the competition is you will need the whole squad.
"Some of the players are in their first season in England. Around Christmas it gets hard, a lot of games and we’ll need everyone.”