Advertisement

Michail Antonio on staying grounded at West Ham: 'I never think I've made it, you can be forgotten in two weeks'

Michail Antonio is wary of getting ahead of himself after a stellar rise at West Ham as "you can be forgotten within two weeks" in football.

The 27-year-old enjoyed another productive season, scoring nine goals to be the Hammers' top scorer despite largely playing on the right flank, to be named the club's player of the year.

Antonio, who earned his first England call-ups under Sam Allardyce and then Gareth Southgate, subsequently signed a new four-year deal at the London Stadium to cap a rise to prominence in the Premier League.

"It was pleasing to get the deal done before the summer started," he told Standard Sport.

"The contract talks went on for a long time and it can be quite distracting, so I’m looking forward to going out next season and playing with a free mind."

Antonio is yet to make his England bow but is of interest to Southgate after making the squad in March.

The midfielder feels his determination to better himself will only serve him well moving forwards.

He continued: "It’s always been about taking each step as it comes. Being honest, when I was playing for Tooting & Mitcham, I was buzzing, thinking: ‘I’m semi-pro.’ Then when I made my debut in League One, I was buzzing again, thinking ‘I’m pro’.

"Then it was the Championship, then the Premier League, and then called up for England. And each time it happened, it was a surprise to me. But I’ve always wanted to make myself better, and I think that is why I have made those steps.

"As soon as I reach a new one, I don’t think ‘Ah that’s it’ and settle. I always want to be better and kick on again.

"I never think ‘I’ve made it’ because, in football, you can be forgotten within two weeks and I don’t ever want to be forgotten. I want to always be better and make my career last as long as possible."

"It does make me proud to know where I’ve come from and how hard I have worked, but I’m also scared of it, because I know what I’ve had to do, and I don’t ever want to go back to that situation. It drives me more to be better."

Antonio's path to the Premier League was stop-start. After impressing at non-league Tooting and Mitcham United he made the big leap up to Championship side Reading.

Loans to League One outfits Cheltenham Town and Southampton followed before he was finally given the chance to impress at Reading only to be sent out to Colchester and then Sheffield Wednesday.

Michail Antonio while on loan at Cheltenham Town (Getty Images)
Michail Antonio while on loan at Cheltenham Town (Getty Images)

It was at Hillsborough where he found his feet and made the move permanent a year later. Nottingham Forest then came calling before Antonio made it to the Premier League seven years after his first professional move.

"Football is about a lot of hard work, and a little bit of luck," he says. "I got to Reading because Billy Smith, my manager at Tooting & Mitcham, knew Steve Coppell and told him to come and watch me. But I also had a trial for Millwall, who wanted to sign me after noticing me play.

"So although there was a bit of luck in getting to Reading, it was my hard work that got me noticed, and at the end of the day that is what it always comes down to."

West Ham struggled during their first campaign at the London Stadium, winning just seven of 19 in front of their home fans.

But, as with his own progression, Antonio is confident of this club's fortunes and points to the small margin of error which would have put a differing shine on their league finish and feels the absence of the Europa League is a positive.

He said: "Looking back at last season, I don’t think you can really call it a bad season. We finished 11th, one point off eighth, which you can’t say is a bad season.

(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

"This team has a lot of character. Despite people talking about relegation last season, we never believed that. We knew we had the quality in our squad to pull away from danger.

"But as a team, we want to progress and keep improving - that is our aim next season. We finished seventh the season before last, and that is what we should be looking towards again."

He added: "We will have a lot of time to work together on the training field as a team. Without the Europa League games early on that we had the past two years, things won’t be as rushed, we can work on our game plan and on what we need to do in the Premier League."

West Ham have one new face among their ranks ahead of the upcoming campaign with the free signing of two-time Premier League winner Pablo Zabaleta.

"He has great experience with Manchester City, he’s won the Premier League title and experienced it all," Antonio added. "It’s not just ability that he is bringing, it’s his knowledge of the game, and we can all learn from him."

West Ham United’s new home kit was launched earlier this week, and is available to pre-order now in Club Stores or online at officialwesthamstore.com.