West Ham’s Antonio Recovering After Car Crash, Manager Lopetegui Confirms

Michail Antonio appeared in each of West Ham’s first 14 matches in the Premier League this season. West Ham United manager Julen Lopetegui stated that the club’s players are scheduled to visit teammate Michail Antonio in the hospital this weekend. Antonio is continuing his recovery following what Lopetegui described as a “miracle” escape from a car accident. The 34-year-old Jamaica international underwent surgery for a lower limb fracture after his accident on 7 December. Following the incident in Epping, Essex, Antonio required extrication from his vehicle and was subsequently transported to a central London hospital. Speaking on Friday, Lopetegui stated, “We are going to visit him today or tomorrow.” He added, “But the main thing is we are happy because he is recovering well. We are close to him and his family and we wish him the best for the next days.” The manager further commented on Antonio’s condition, saying, “The best news about Michail Antonio was that he was able to talk with us before the [Wolves] match – [because] looking at the car crash, it was one miracle [he was OK].” Lopetegui concluded, “Now he is strong, he is recovering himself in the next months to be a man first and then a player.” The PA news agency reported that Antonio is anticipated to stay in the hospital for several weeks while recuperating from numerous injuries. Prior to their significant 2-1 victory against Wolves on Monday, the Hammers forward communicated with his team-mates through a video call, with the team having worn ‘Antonio 9’ shirts before the match began. Antonio holds the record as West Ham’s all-time top scorer in the Premier League, having netted 68 goals across 268 league appearances. West Ham is scheduled to resume Premier League play with an away fixture against Bournemouth on Monday night. Separately, on Friday, the club conveyed “with deep and profound sadness” the passing of Oscar Fairs, their under-15s academy goalkeeper, who died after a fight with cancer. Sporting director Mark Noble commented, “Oscar was adored by everyone at the academy – not only was he a great goalkeeper, he was a true Hammer and a fantastic young person, who will be deeply missed by everyone who had the pleasure to know him.” In a gesture of respect, West Ham has postponed all academy fixtures scheduled for this weekend, which includes the PL2 under-21 match against Stoke City that was set for Friday. The club stated that details regarding its plans to honor Fairs, aged 15, and to “ensure that his name is never forgotten at West Ham” would be announced at a later time. Noble further remarked, “I have wonderful memories of Oscar playing in my garden – [my son] Lenny and his team-mates all loved him.” He continued, “He was a friendly, happy, well-mannered and polite young man, who had such a bright future ahead of him, and it is just so unimaginably devastating that he has been taken from his family and friends at this age.”