Gary Neville was full of praise for Michail Antonio, during Sky Sports’ live coverage of West Ham’s win against Aston Villa on Monday night, and claimed he would be a ‘nightmare’ to play against.
The former right-back also compared him to Everton’s thriving star Dominic Calvert-Lewin and thinks the Hammers powerhouse is someone who can ’cause you problems’ throughout the match.
Antonio started West Ham’s win against Aston Villa last night, but he was substituted at half-time after only just returning from injury.
But before the match, Neville was clearly a fan of the versatile attacker, who has turned his goalscoring boots on since David Moyes returned to the club.
“Enthusiasm, infectious, 11 goals in 13 games,” said Neville. “I absolutely love watching him play.
“I think maybe there is a lack of appreciation previously about how good he was and how important he was to the team.
“I think the way in which Everton have seen Calvert-Lewin emerge. The running, the quality, the way in which he occupies defenders. I would hate to play against him if I was a centre-back and I played centre-back a few games.
“You would not want to be in that team against him because he causes you problems all the game. He doesn’t let you rest. In possession and out of possession. He’s a nightmare to play against.”
Just like Marko Arnautović, Moyes has transformed yet another wide player into a goalscoring forward and it’s another genius move by the Scotsman.
Purchased for just £7 million in 2015 from Nottingham Forest [Sky Sports], the only thing that has held Antonio back in recent years has been injuries.
Since football returned to action after the first lockdown, 95% out of the time, he has stayed out of the treatment room and the results of that are there to be seen because he has caused havoc.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
