West Ham boss David Moyes has claimed that Michail Antonio ‘gets a lot’ of respect, as he told Football London.
The Scotsman was asked whether it’s time the West Ham forward was given ‘the respect he deserves’ but Moyes made it clear that he gets plenty of it from him and those within the club.
Six games into the Premier League season, Antonio is sitting top of the Premier League’s top-scorer pile.
Whilst he is level with the likes of Mohamed Salah and Jamie Vardy, he is ahead of the duo because he has a better goals-per-minute ratio.
That was proven over the weekend when Antonio, who returned from suspension, netted a late goal at Leeds.
And this is what his manager had to say about that performance and whether he gets enough respect.
“Seen him play better,” said Moyes. “Missed some chances at the start. Really done terrific for us as a forward.
“Not his best today, but the finish was magic after missing a few. He’ll play much better and the team will.
“Every person does give him the respect. He gets a lot and deserves it. The biggest is from me and the club. Really value him.
“Developing into a good player. Sometimes as a forward, the all-round play is not the most important. The most important is to score the goal.”
Previously, injuries have stagnated Antonio and it hasn’t allowed him to play with the full force and consistency he has always been looking for.
But he now spends very little time in the treatment room, which allows him to trust and push his body a lot more.
That has then allowed the £7 million player (Sky Sports) to burst into all-out-action and currently prove to be one of the most feared forwards in the Premier League.
Moyes has played a big part in that development because he took a winger, with a box of tricks, fine-tuned him and turned him into a goalscoring striker.
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