West Ham star Michail Antonio was in good spirits as he spoke to his Hammers team-mates ahead of their Premier League showdown with Wolves on Monday night. The 34-year-old was involved in a car accident in Essex on Saturday and was airlifted to hospital after being trapped in his vehicle for 45 minutes.
The front of his Ferrari was completely destroyed in the accident, with Essex Police appealing for dashcam footage of the incident.
The striker underwent an operation on a lower limb fracture on Monday, and there have been suggestions that he may never be able to return to the pitch due to his injuries.
West Ham hosted Wolves at the London Stadium on Monday evening, with both sides desperate for the three points after difficult starts to the season.
The home side clinched the victory as Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen found the back of the net either side of a strike from Wolves’ Matt Doherty. And after the match, Soucek dedicated his goal to Antonio as he gave an update on the forward’s condition.
“Yes it was for him. I dedicated it to him – I said to myself that I want to score even more today,” explained the Czechia international.
“Antonio has been here since I came and he’s been my favourite. It’s tough not to play a long time without him. This is for him, he’s a massive player and he’s in my heart.
“It was really tough. I was with the kids and I saw the information on my phone. I messaged everyone what I could on how he is. I wish him all the best, I was so scared as to what was going to happen.
“It was a tough week for us and his family. It’s really tough but we are happy he came to the position he can be. We saw him before the game, we had a video call with him before the game. I was so happy, he smiled to us and he gave us all the best and so happy for him. I can’t wait to visit him.
“He’s a lovely guy, so happy. He had a few jokes and wished us all the best. He’s top scorer for West Ham, one of the best West Ham have had. This was great we saw him today, I wish him all the best. These things happen, but hopefully he will be even better soon.”
Antonio started 11 of his side’s opening 14 Premier League games of the campaign and got his name on the scoresheet against Ipswich in October.
He is the Hammers’ all-time top scorer in the Premier League after bagging 68 goals for the club in the top flight.
