David Moyes admits he is holding out hope that Michail Antonio will turn a corner with his form and deliver a ‘bundle of goals’ for West Ham United, via quotes by football.london.
The forward has failed to score in each of his last five Premier League games after a prolific start. Antonio found the net six times in his first eight games this season, but he has not put the ball over the line since the Irons beat London rivals Tottenham Hotspur on October 24.
Four of the 31-year-old’s efforts, along with each of his three assists, also came during their three fixtures in August. His only strike since other than against Spurs came away to Leeds.
Antonio must have felt he ended his drought as West Ham hosted Brighton on Wednesday. But referee Chris Kavanagh and VAR Jarred Gillett deemed him to have been stood offside.
The decision to rule the £70k-a-week striker’s goal out proved costly, as the Seagulls came from behind to draw. West Ham are now three games without a win for the second time this season – they ended their first run with Antonio scoring in October’s 2-1 win at Leeds.
Moyes is eager for Antonio to rediscover his scoring boots and deliver West Ham his goals again soon. As well as failing to win their last three games, the Irons only scored twice.
“We have managed his games and I think he has set high standards and expectations,” Moyes explained. “I hope it is like any striker who goes through periods of goals and I am hoping we get a bundle of goals from Micky soon.”
Antonio a mainstay of Moyes’ Premier League plans at West Ham
Antonio has played all but one minute of regular time in 13 of West Ham’s Premier League fixtures this season. Moyes removed him from the action in the 89th-minute of their win over Leicester in August, and also late into stoppage-time against Newcastle and Leeds.
David Coote also showed Antonio a second yellow card in the 95th-minute at Southampton in September. The suspension kept him from their following clash with Manchester United.
Moyes has instead looked to manage Antonio’s workload across West Ham’s exploits in the Carabao Cup and Europa League. He has so far only played the Jamaica forward in three of their five European ties and is yet to call on him at all in the EFL Cup after two rounds.
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