Michail Antonio could make his comeback next week – but has he played his last game for West Ham?
Steve McClaren initially pencilled in September for Michail Antonio's potential return to the Jamaica national team but the West Ham United forward targeted an earlier comeback.
It was during a recent training session with Jamaica before the Unity Cup where Antonio convinced McClaren that his fitness merited a place in their 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup squad.
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Antonio, who has scored five goals in 21 caps, had always aimed for a summer return and the 35-year-old could make his comeback in the competition. Jamaica play Guatemala in Carson on June 16 (3am GMT, June 17), followed by Guadeloupe in San Jose four days later (12.45am GMT, June 21) and Panama in North Austin on June 24 (12am GMT, June 25).
However, with his future at the London Stadium still unresolved, there is a danger that Antonio may have played his last game for West Ham.
The forward has not featured in a competitive game since December 3 (in West Ham's 3-1 defeat at Leicester City) after he was involved in a single-vehicle collision four days later, with the car he was driving striking a tree in Epping Forest. He underwent surgery on a lower-limb fracture and spent four and a half weeks recovering at a central London hospital. Before his accident, Antonio had scored once in 15 appearances this season before breaking his femur in four places.
Antonio was told his rehabilitation could last 12 months but playing for Jamaica this summer and attempting to earn a contract extension at West Ham have been key motivators.
Jamaica boss McClaren was shocked at the speed of Antonio's recovery, having initially hoped he would feature in their squad for September's 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
'It's unbelievable and shows the mentality of Michail that he has an accident in which he was lucky to survive,' McClaren told the Jamaica Observer in May. 'I've kept in touch since and I can't believe it. I think February or March-time, I was speaking to him and he said: 'Pencil me in for the Unity Cup'. I said: 'You've got to be joking'. We want him with us; not just playing, potentially, but also as a leader of the team. He's so vital.'
Antonio hoped to earn a place on the bench in West Ham's final game of the season against Ipswich Town but head coach Graham Potter opted against naming him in the squad. West Ham have delayed a decision on Antonio's future, with his current deal set to expire on June 30. The club say his 'unique situation' means no formal decision will be made until the time is 'right and appropriate'.
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Antonio's camp have held talks with majority shareholder David Sullivan and head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay, but no agreement over a new contract has been reached yet, with the player appearing as a free transfer on West Ham's retained list, although the club puts this down to 'Premier League procedural reasons'. Antonio is disappointed at the lack of progress over an extension.
He believes he can still play at a high level and that his years of loyalty warrant a new deal. Antonio is also open to playing abroad if he is unable to extend his 10-year spell in east London. He has previously had interest from MLS clubs and last summer, West Ham rejected an offer from Brazilian side Gremio for Antonio, which was in the region of £2million. Since joining from Nottingham Forest in 2015, Antonio has scored 83 goals and provided 40 assists across 323 appearances. He is the club's all-time leading goalscorer in the Premier League with 68 goals.
Earlier this week, Antonio posted a video on Instagram chronicling his recovery. The striker is appreciative of the support he has received following the events of December 7. He was unconscious when he was cut out of his Ferrari FF. He crashed during Storm Darragh and could not be airlifted to hospital.
He was driven there instead, where he was informed by doctors it was a miracle that he was still alive. Antonio had glass fragments in his hands and neck when he arrived at the hospital. West Ham's club doctor Christopher Mogekwu and the player care team helped to ensure Antonio's well-being.
'The police came and when they found me in the car, I was in between the two seats,' Antonio told the BBC in March. 'They said it looked like I was trying to climb out of the window but because my leg was so badly broken, the pain probably stopped me from being able to get out.'
A post shared by Michail Antonio (@michailantonio)
On December 9, Tomas Soucek and captain Jarrod Bowen dedicated their goals to Antonio during West Ham's 2-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers. Antonio had spoken to his team-mates via video call before the match. The squad then visited the forward on December 14.
After being discharged from hospital, Antonio continued his recovery at West Ham's Rush Green training ground. He initially worked on strengthening his right leg as part of his rehabilitation programme. In February, he had a fortnight of warm-weather fitness training in Dubai. A change of scenery was viewed as being beneficial for his recovery.
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Antonio returned to the London Stadium on March 10 and was greeted by fans ahead of his side's 1-0 defeat by Newcastle United. In that March interview with BBC Morning Live, he admitted he was slightly embarrassed to be seen following the car crash. That same month, he went to view the remains of his car at the scrapyard. It was another realisation to Antonio that he had cheated death. It was the second collision he has had while driving since 2019 .
After months of intense individual training, Antonio returned to full training with the squad on May 5. He was warmly embraced by the group who flicked his ears as he ran through the huddle.
Antonio hopes to prove doubters wrong at the Gold Cup. His last game for Jamaica was a goalless draw against Honduras in October during the Concacaf Nations League. After proving his fitness to McClaren, Antonio will aim to do the same to West Ham's hierarchy — or other potential suitors.
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