West Ham United’s sporting director, Mark Noble, has offered an encouraging update regarding Michail Antonio’s recovery from a severe leg injury sustained in a car accident last December.
The 35-year-old Jamaican international suffered multiple fractures to his femur when his Ferrari collided with a tree in Epping, Essex.
Following the incident, Antonio underwent surgery and was discharged from the hospital in late December.
Antonio, who suffered the crash after visiting Ghana to see the progress of his academy, has since been focusing on rehabilitation, including gym sessions and walking exercises.
Noble, who transitioned from player to sporting director at West Ham, expressed admiration for Antonio’s resilience.
Speaking to TalkSPORT, Noble remarked, “To be honest, if you look at him, he’s a freak of nature. I mean, how he got out of that car in the first place.”
He further noted, “But I saw him yesterday at the training ground and he’s walking about freely, he’s in the gym doing stuff.”
Noble emphasized the significance of Antonio’s presence at the training facility, stating, “Just to actually see him here and being with the boys is great.”
Antonio’s rehabilitation is progressing ahead of schedule, with reports indicating that he is engaging in running drills and gym workouts.
Manager Graham Potter has acknowledged Antonio’s positive recovery, highlighting the benefits of his warm-weather training sessions in Dubai.
Despite the optimistic outlook, Antonio is expected to remain sidelined for the remainder of the season.
Off the pitch, Antonio has been candid about the emotional impact of the accident. He described the incident as a life-altering experience, stating, ‘I was close to dying in car crash,’ and expressed gratitude for a second chance at life.
