West Ham forward Michail Antonio is anticipated to remain less than fully fit for the upcoming clash against Brentford, as indicated by insights from Dr. Rajpal Brar.
Despite his 75-minute appearance against Nottingham Forest on February 17, the Jamaican international has yet to recover completely from his injury, according to the injury expert.
Antonio’s return from a ligament injury was earlier than anticipated, prompting the need for late fitness assessments ahead of Monday’s fixture on February 26.
In an exclusive conversation with West Ham Zone, Dr. Brar, specializing in Physical Therapy and Sports Science, highlighted Antonio’s progress:
“At the beginning of February, it seemed he was nearing a return to higher-intensity activities. However, despite starting against Nottingham Forest and playing 75 minutes, he’s still not at 100%. He’s nearing full fitness but will continue to be monitored before matches.”
While Antonio’s return against Forest was undoubtedly a boost for West Ham, caution must be exercised to avoid pushing him too hard, especially given his age and current match sharpness concerns.
David Moyes will likely consider managing Antonio’s minutes carefully, balancing his contribution with the need to maintain his fitness and avoid risking further injury.
