West Ham handed injury boost as Graham Potter makes ‘positive’ admission before Arsenal. West Ham have been handed some good news as they prepare to take on Arsenal. West Ham have been handed a long-term injury boost as they prepare to face Arsenal on Saturday. The Hammers have had a tough time of things this season, and their form hasn’t improved under new boss Graham Potter, at least not up to this point.
Potter has struggled to install his ideas during his early days in charge, and while it was always going to take time for a manager who arrived during the season, the Irons need to get going soon if they want to challenge for the top half of the table this season.
Arsenal are the next task, on Saturday, and there is some good news before that clash, albeit the news won’t impact the game itself. Michail Antonio has already returned to the grass and has started running, according to The Mirror. The forward is currently working in Dubai in a bid to take advantage of the warm weather, and whatever he is doing, it seems to be working.
Antonio broke his leg in a car crash less than three months ago, and he was not expected to be back jogging at this stage. The news is a big boost for the Hammers, even if the 34-year-old does not return this season.
West Ham boss Potter has said: “He’s going well, he’s been out in Dubai so I think it’s been good for him to get that work in. I think that’s a really good phase of the rehabilitation for him. As far as I know from all the reports from the medical guys, it’s moving in the right direction. It’s a case of not rushing that one but certainly it’s positive.
“It’s just more about slowly getting back onto the pitch, more pitch-based stuff but in probably a slightly warmer environment than Rush Green in February.” Potter added: “As I said, with the severity of the injury and the incident, the most important thing is that he takes the space and time that he needs with the medical people. Then Mick being Mick, as soon as he feels ready, he’s going to be ready.”
