Michail Antonio scored twice in his first start for West Ham just seven months after a terrifying car crash left him needing surgery and fearing for his career.
Antonio escaped the incident with a badly broken leg and had his femur bone put back together after it was shattered in four places.
The forward had not featured in a match since crashing his Ferrari into a tree in December until he suited up for his national team last week.
The 35-year-old was back on the pitch for Jamaica’s Gold Cup opener against Guatemala, coming off the bench in the 85th minute.
And on Friday night, Antonio took another step in his recovery, playing 45 minutes in a behind-closed-doors West Ham Under 21 friendly against Boreham Wood.
It took him just 20 minutes to net a brace as the Hammers marched to a 4-1 victory.
He will be keen to prove his fitness with his West Ham contract, which is believed to be around £90,000 a week, coming to an end.
Antonio is currently weighing up his options after rejecting a short-term deal on lower wages.
‘He’s looking at what offers he gets,’ a senior Hammers source recently told Mail Sport.
West Ham announced earlier this month they will continue to support Antonio throughout his comeback, even though he will officially been listed as a ‘free transfer’.West Ham announced earlier this month they will continue to support Antonio throughout his comeback, even though he will officially been listed
‘Given Michail Antonio’s unique situation, following his serious road traffic accident in December 2024, there will be no formal decision and announcement on his future until such time that it is considered right and appropriate,’ the statement read.
‘However, as his current contract is also due to expire on 30 June, for the purposes of the Premier League Retained List procedure at the end of the 2024/25 season, Michail will be listed as a free transfer.
‘As a long-serving, highly-respected player, and a much-loved member of the West Ham family, the club’s absolute priority at this time is to support Michail personally in his journey to resume playing at the highest level.’
The West Ham record Premier League goal-scorer revisited his old car’s remains at a scrapyard in March, which put the horror incident into perspective.
‘It gave me a weird feeling in my stomach,’ Antonio told BBC One programme Morning Live.
‘It just made me realise how close I was to dying. I had seen the pictures, but it was 10 times worse in person. The car was an absolute mess. It was difficult for me.
‘All I know is that I hit a tree – I don’t know how I hit a tree – and that the police came and when they found me in the car, I was in between the two seats.
‘From the crash, I’ve been more of an emotional man. I was avoiding going back because I was slightly embarrassed by the crash and the accident. Obviously I’ve almost died in the car crash.’
The accident was Antonio’s second in a fast car after he crashed his £210,000 Lamborghini Huracan into a bin shed in Balham, south London, on Christmas Day 2019 while dressed as a snowman.
