‘In bits’: Key West Ham player says he’s not been out of bed for last two days as he’s so ill

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West Ham United striker Michail Antonio says he has been ill since Sunday’s Premier League win over Fulham.

Antonio came off the bench to score against the Cottagers as the Hammers continued their recent run of good form.

But speaking on the BBC’s Footballers’ Football Podcast, Antonio has said he almost did not come onto the pitch.

And he has said he has been laid up in bed with illness since, throwing his part in tonight’s game against Anderlecht into doubt.

Antonio says he is ill

Antonio said of his fitness: “I’m dead mate. I’m dead. Don’t know what I’ve got but it’s killing me. Last two days I’ve not been out of bed. I was ill before the game. I woke up and felt drained, I had no energy. Before the game they gave me red bulls, gels, vitamin shots, all things to try and perk me up.

“When I was on the bench my neck and back started getting sore, you know when your body is starting to ache.

“Then I was warming up and my hamstring started getting tight, I’ve gone to run back in to tell the physio that I might not be able to go on because I don’t mess with my hamstrings, and as I’m running in the gaffer goes ‘Mike get ready, you’re going on’.

“So I crumbled, I did a couple of sprints to make sure I could run and after a couple I thought it felt alright.
I went back on and nobody could tell I was ill but leaving the game I was shivering, eyes were shutting, and the last two days I’ve been in bits.”

Gianluca Scamacca has come into the Hammers side and is playing well and scoring goals, which gives Antonio a challenge on his hands.

The Jamaica international has not had that cover or competition in recent seasons, and it should help him in terms of freshness and sharpness.

But he needs to get back to full fitness first, and it remains to be seen if he plays any part in the game at the London Stadium tonight.