West Ham: The incredible transformation of Michail Antonio

Michail Antonio is a footballer known for his versatility. Often looked on as a ‘utility man’, if you name a position on the pitch, you can bet your bottom dollar that he will have played it at some point.

Since the Premier League restart, Antonio’s main position on the field has been as a centre forward – a role which he has previously played – but not to the effect that he is currently doing so.

He is the Premier League’s top scorer in this mini-season, with eight goals in as many games, helping West Ham avoid relegation with one game to spare as they prepare for Sunday’s final game at home to Aston Villa.

His strikes alone have been worth six points to the Hammers, without which would see the club heading into Sunday’s showdown needing a victory whilst also having to rely on results elsewhere.

Overall, Iron Mike – as often referred to by West Ham fans – has netted 10 times in 23 Premier League appearances throughout this campaign – his first double-digit season for the Hammers since he joined the club in 2015.

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That comes as no surprise, however, as he has never really been given a consistent run as a striker, with his versatility often coming as a hindrance to the 30-year-old. His physical attributes have had him deployed as deep as a full-back on both sides on many occasions, and to his credit, he has always persevered for the sake of the team.

Injuries have also played their part in his troubles to nail down a lead-striking role in the team, with recurring hamstring struggles stopping any momentum that he has often found in the past.

Currently, however, the confidence is oozing out of Antonio like never before, and in actual fact, it is a shame that the season is almost at a close as, at the moment, nobody looks able to stop him.

His finishing always had question marks hanging over it, with his composure letting him down many times over the years. It can be argued that when he has time to think, he is less likely to find the net than when he is simply acting on instinct.

His run of goals lately, though, have come in a variety of different ways. He has begun to find pockets of space that top-class strikers regularly find, such as his goals against Chelsea, Newcastle and his fourth against Norwich.

His strike against Watford highlighted the confidence running through him, as he slotted the ball through Ben Foster’s legs with his weaker left foot. His set-piece threat proved vital with further goals against the Canaries, whilst he even had the composure to send David De Gea the wrong way for his penalty against Manchester United.

The million-dollar question is: Can Antonio keep this level up to be West Ham’s starting striker next season, or is this simply a purple patch of form?

With the new season starting again on 12 September, this could work massively in his favour. After finishing the current season in such dazzling fashion, his form will be fresh in his memory and there is no reason why he can’t continue to play at such a high level heading into the future.

Antonio’s commitment to the club has never been in doubt, with the player leaving nothing on the field every time he steps off it. His newly-found knack for goals, however, has taken him, as a footballer, up a level, and he now has shown that he has the capabilities to lead West Ham to greater heights than scraping survival next season and beyond.