Michail Antonio has vowed to make a return to high-level soccer as he continues to recuperate from December’s horrific automobile crash which left him with a critical leg break.
Antonio, who turns 35 later this month, needed to be taken to hospital after the ugly crash, which saved him hospitalised over Christmas earlier than he was discharged to proceed his restoration. Unsurprisingly, he is not going to return for West Ham United this season.
Sitting down with BBC Sport for the primary interview for the reason that accident, Antonio admitted he’s decided to not bid farewell to his enjoying profession.
“I shattered my femur bone in 4 totally different locations,” he defined. “I had one single keyhole surgical procedure. They put a pole in my thigh with 4 bolts, so screws and bolts to knit it again collectively.
“My first surgeon stated he did not need me to place any weight on my leg for 3 months, which is round about now, and you may see that I’m strolling. We obtained a second specialist who stated I wanted to start out placing weight on it, growing from 10% as much as 100% inside three weeks.
“However I saved my crutches for an additional two weeks. Total, they are saying it will likely be between six to 12 months earlier than my leg begins therapeutic correctly.
“100%. I’ll play once more. That is what I’m targeted on and why I’m working six days every week. I’ve all the time been constructive from this example. It is a horrendous accident, and it is a huge harm.
“It is the largest harm I’ve ever had in my profession. However the truth that I am already two to a few months forward of the place I needs to be, I do know that I will play once more, and I do know that after I am enjoying the sport I will get the sharpness again.
“I used to be one of many quickest at West Ham. So my physique wasn’t the physique of a 34-year-old earlier than I had the accident anyway. I can nonetheless be sharp and nonetheless do the enterprise.
“Folks have all the time doubted me. My psychological power is one thing that I’ve all the time believed in and that is simply one other setback, and it’s not going to cease me.”
Reflecting on the severity of the accident, Antonio admitted solely actually understanding the total extent when he was taken to see what remained of his automobile weeks later.
“My leg was utterly shattered and so they obtained me out and put a splint on it by the facet of the automobile,” Antonio continued.
“Everybody believed I obtained an air ambulance out, however the helicopter could not get off the bottom due to the storm, so I used to be pushed to the hospital.
“[Seeing the wreckage] gave me a bizarre feeling in my abdomen. It simply made me realise how shut I used to be to dying. I had seen the photographs but it surely was ten occasions worse in individual. The automobile was an absolute mess. It was tough for me.”
