Antonio hopes to bounce back soon from calf injury

LONDON (CMC):

Jamaican footballer Michail Antonio said he "will be back very soon" from a calf injury picked up in a 2-0 win for English Premier League club West Ham United against Cypriot side AEK Larnaca in the Europa Conference League last week.

The two goals from the Reggae Boyz striker took his tally for the season to nine and gave his struggling West Ham a cushion for the second leg yesterday at London Stadium, where the Hammers won 4-0, Antonio having also missed the 1-1 draw with Aston Villa last Sunday.

"It's nothing too bad," Antonio, 32, told the media. "Hopefully, I can be involved very soon.

"I was gutted. I didn't get to play last weekend against Villa as I scored two goals (in Larnaca), and I want to get momentum. It was quite frustrating.

"It was a game made for me because Villa play such a high line - a game I would have thrived in."

West Ham's next match is not until April 2. By the time they face Southampton, they could be in the Premier League relegation zone.

"We just have to win important games," Antonio said. "We will do the work in the break and go for three points. If we concentrate on ourselves and do what needs to be done, we won't get relegated."