- An emotional Michail Antonio is presented to West Ham fans in the London Stadium
- In December, he was involved in a horror accident that left him with a broken leg
- Everything is starting! With the Premier League probably ensuring five places in the Champions League, are we rewarding mediocrity?
Michail Antonio swollen his cheeks and turned to face the huge banner that was deployed at the bottom of the Bobby Moore post when his name rang around the London stadium and the bubbles began to surround him.
Only three months after the horror accident that left him with a broken leg and the fate of being alive, the goal scorer of the Premier League of West Ham's record came out to the field for the first time since he felt the flattery of the followers before the game of his team against Newcastle.
Antonio smiled as he shook the hands of the pets inside the tunnel before emerging to take the applause and shared a great defender of Newcastle Kieran Trippier and a hug with the manager Graham Potter before he disappeared again inside once again.
'Michail Antonio, our number 9', Lee The Banner, a screen organized by the fans group, Ironworks Alliance that also showed an image of Antonio with a crown and wrapped in a Jamaican flag.
The songs of 'Antonio, Antonio' grew and grew before being drowned by the music of I am blowing bubbles while the teams arose before the start.
Antonio was only outside for a few minutes and said nothing while applauding fans encouraging his name, but that was remarkable enough for a man who feared only just over 90 days ago when the images began to circulate of his Ferrari crushed against a tree and arose that he has been caught inside him for 45 minutes before being rescued by emergency services.
Michail Antonio swells his cheeks as an emotional return to London's stadium
The West Ham Striker is received by a strident reception and songs of 'Antonio, Antonio'
Antonio shares a hug with the manager Graham Potter before he disappeared again inside
“Exactly three months ago, we were all willing to recover while lying in a hospital bed and since then it has demonstrated the strength, resistance and character that typifies man and tonight meets his West Ham family,” said the stadium's announcer.
On the television studio, Sky Sports Expert Jamie Carragher wondered if Antonio could even play again before the end of the season.
Three months ago, many wondered if the 34 -year -old man would once kick a ball again.
And yet, it is not out of the kingdoms of the possibility. Antonio has just returned from 12 days of training with warm weather in Dubai.
He hopes to train with his teammates at some point of next month or so.
“Mich's recovery is moving in the right direction,” said the chief of the Hammers, Graham Potter, recently. 'I would not be thinking anything (of a possible return) this side of the international breakup. It is not a case to hurry it, but it is certainly positive. '
Antonio remains a key part of the Hammers wardrobe, in charge of the team's fines system and was frequently visited by his teammates while he was in the hospital.
Antonio was presented to the multitude of West Ham three months after his automobile horror accident
The 34 -year -old has just returned from 12 days of training with warm weather in Dubai
He even face his Hammers team from his hospital bed two days after the accident to give them a talk prior to the game before his victory against the wolves.
Three months and Antonio seemed visibly emotional when he returned to the London stadium and you don't need much heart to appreciate why.
“What impressed was the fact that he recognized the situation, the terrible experience and gravity and reflected on her in a human way, not a footballer,” Potter added recently.
“When you go through something like that, it gives you perspective.”