How Michail Antonio has gone from West Ham’s scapegoat to their most important player

It was only this time last year when West Ham fans had had enough of Michail Antonio.

Long gone seem the days when he was getting on the scoresheet on a consistent basis. Instead, his potshots from outside the box that more often than not ended up in row Z became his trademark move. His inability to spot a teammate in a more favorable position was what started changing the fans’ attitude to the 29-year-old from a loveable one to an infuriating sense of disappointment.

There were even murmurs of a move away from London Stadium to local rivals Crystal Palace during those testing times, but they never materialized. Fast forward 11 months and Antonio just netted his first goal of the season in a 3-2 home loss against Spurs.

The Hammers’ found themselves trailing 3-0 after just 50 minutes before a mini-resurgence closed the deficit to just the one goal. That wasn’t enough, though, as they have now gone seven Premier League matches without a victory.

It was, however, the introduction of Antonio which gave West Ham the kick up the backside that they truly needed, as he added much-needed urgency and dynamism that was desperately lacking in the first half.

He alone turned Jose Mourinho and his defense’s afternoon from an easy ride into a battle, as he fought for every loose ball, won headers that he frankly had no right to win, as well as giving his team a lifeline back into the game with a smart finish from the edge of the box.

After two months out with a hamstring injury, one may have imagined that it would have taken some time to get back into the swing of things, but the Englishman was the only West Ham forward who looked to deal any kind of threat to the opposition goal.

With the likes of Felipe Anderson looking short of confidence, Andriy Yarmolenko losing his goal-scoring touch, and Sebastien Haller seemingly a shadow of the player that he threatened to be during the opening weeks of the campaign, Antonio’s recovery may well have arrived at the perfect time.

West Ham have got a frightening fixture list looming upon them over the next month, with Frank Lampard’s young and high-flying Chelsea being the next team in line waiting to pounce on a Hammers’ side that now sit just three points above the relegation zone.

Manuel Pellegrini needs to figure out a new system which gets the best out of all players, starting with the man in between the sticks, and finishing with those who look to score the goals. Regardless, Antonio will be integral to whichever system he stumbles across.

It is important to give Haller support, as he looks ever more frustrated in his isolated role as the lone frontman with each passing week. Antonio proved yesterday that he is the perfect foil, as he will always provide support with his unorthodox but effective style of play.

In addition, this will hopefully, in turn, give Anderson and Yarmolenko a reality check, as their places have looked far too assured throughout the season, despite their inconsistent form. After being written off by many not so long ago, Hammers’ fans hopes of a revival may lay in the industrious hands of Antonio. Who would’ve thought it?