West Ham United co-chairman David Gold praises Michail Antonio.
West Ham United co-chairman David Gold has revealed on the club’s official website what he told Michail Antonio when he could not get into the team.
Antonio joined Premier League club West Ham from Championship side Nottingham Forest in the summer of 2015.
The 26-year-old arrived at the Hammers with a strong reputation, but the winger failed to break into the team initially.
The Englishman eventually established himself in Slaven Bilic’s side and also showcased his versatility by playing at right-back.
Antonio has been called up to the recent England squad, and Gold has expressed his admiration of the winger.
The West Ham co-chairman has also revealed his advice to Antonio when the winger was struggling to get into the team.
“You wonder where we would be without his five goals this season and he is getting stronger and a major threat to the opposition,” Gold wrote about Antonio on West Ham’s official website. “There is no reason why he cannot show the same kind of form for England.
“The best stat you can look for in a player is the number of goals you score in a season. It catches the eye of the national manager and gets you an England call-up.
“You cannot question his work-rate and people are aware of his ability. He now wants to get into the England team.”
“I still remember the early part of his career when he couldn’t get into the team at West Ham and I told him that his time would come,” added Gold. “He has now done that and is now in the England squad.
“He has had a great upbringing progressing through the ranks from non-league and fighting every inch of the way. It is a tough learning curve and all about character building.”
Antonio has scored five goals and created six chances in seven Premier League appearances so far this season.
The former Sheffield Wednesday winger scored eight goals and created 24 chances in 26 Premier League matches for the Hammers during the 2015-16 campaign.
West Ham are third from bottom in the Premier League table at the moment with just four points from seven matches.
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