Michail Antonio has promised to return to high level football as he continues to recover from the horrific December car accident that left him with a serious break from his legs.
Antonio, who is 35 years old by the end of this month, had to be taken to the hospital after the horrible crush, which kept him hospitalized during Christmas before he was discharged to continue their recovery. Not surprising, he won’t return to West Ham United this season.
Sitting BBC Sport For the first interview since the accident, Antonio admitted that he was determined not to say goodbye to his career.
“I broke my femur bone in four different places,” he explained. “I had a single hole surgery. They put a stick on my thigh with four screws, so the screws and screws to join it again.
“My first surgeon said he did not want me to put any weight in my leg for three months, which is approximately now, and you can see that I am walking. We have a second specialist who said that I had to start putting -increasing from 10% to 100% in three weeks.
“But I kept my matures for another two weeks. In general, they say it will be between six and 12 months before the leg begins to cure it properly.
“100%. I will play again. This is what I am focused and why I work six days a week. I have always been positive with this situation. It’s a horrible accident and it is a mass injury.
“It’s the biggest injury I’ve had in my career. But the fact that I already have two to three months in front of where I should be, I know I will play again and I know that once they play the game I will again be sharp.
“I was one of the fastest in West Ham. So my body was not the body of a 34 -year -old young man before I had the accident anyway. I can still be sharp and still do the business.
“People have always doubted me. My mental strength is something I have always believed and this is just another setback and will not stop me.”
Reflecting on the severity of the accident, Antonio admitted only to really understand the extension when he was taken to see what was left of his car weeks later.
“My leg was completely destroyed and I was taken out and they put a splint on my car,” Antonio continued.
“Everyone believed that I got an air ambulance, but the helicopter couldn’t get out of the ground due to the storm, so they drove me to the hospital.
“(See the wreck) gave me a strange feeling in my stomach. I just made me realize -me of the proximity of dying. I had seen the pictures, but it was ten times worse in person. The car was an absolute mess. It was difficult for me.”
