West Ham United make Michail Antonio announcement. West Ham United have confirmed that Michail Antonio has been called up to the Jamaica squad for crucial internationals against the USA.
The Irons announced the news via the club’s official website on Sunday (10 November).
Steve McClaren has named the veteran striker in his squad for the two CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final clashes against Mauricio Pochettino’s United States in Kingston [15 November] and St Louis [19 November].
Antonio, 34, has played 12 times for the Hammers this season as he remains key in the eyes of Julen Lopetegui, despite only scoring once.
Michail Antonio still popular for both West Ham and Jamaica
Despite criticism levelled at Antonio, he crucially maintains two important admirers in both of his professional coaches, Lopetegui and McClaren.
Some may say Niclas Fullkrug’s prolonged absence is why Antonio has been named in the Hammers team so regularly this season – which is true to an extent – but Lopetegui was selecting him over the German international before his injury.
Antonio’s only goal in the Premier League so far this term came in the 4-1 win over Ipswich Town at the London Stadium, a rare bright spark in Lopetegui’s short stint to date.
The versatile forward is out of contract at the end of the season and question marks remain over where his future lies, having joined the club during the Upton Park days.
Heading into these two integral internationals for his nation, Antonio has hit five goals in 21 full caps for the Reggae Boyz.
In other West Ham news, Jason Cundy argues the club should have appointed this man instead of Lopetegui.
