David Moyes is confident that Michail Antonio will be able to cope with the game against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday despite playing 119 minutes versus Sevilla just four days after hobbling off injured.
Antonio was substituted early in the second half of the Hammers' clash with Aston Villa last weekend with Moyes admitting he was worried if the striker would be available for the Europa League clash. Not only did Antonio recover in time but the striker was fit enough to last until the final minute of extra-time against Sevilla and put in a fantastic performance to boot.
Despite the quick turnaround for the Hammers with Spurs on the horizon, Moyes is confident his striker will be ready to go.
READ MORE: West Ham find out Europa League quarter-final fate after superb victory over Sevilla
"I do not see any reason why he should not be [fit]," Moyes said. "The biggest thing is just trying to keep Mich away from any hamstring injuries. That's what we're always mindful of. But already he is way ahead of the number of games he normally plays [in a season] so physically he is getting better and that is really important and he is looking after himself much better as well."
The striker could jet off after the Tottenham match for Jamaican duty and whilst Moyes will not stop the player heading away on international duty the manager would be relieved should Antonio miss out and enjoy a hard-earned rest.
"I am not exactly sure if he is or not [going to Jamaica], obviously he has had an adductor injury so we will see how that is today and if there are any effects from that so I cannot tell you if he will go away with Jamaica or not," Moyes told football.london. "But we never discourage payers from going away with the international team, in fact, we always want players too, and I am thrilled for Ben Johnson to get an England [U21] call up and there are one or two others getting calls up in this window and if that happens that is great and that is what we want them to do."
Moyes added: "But in Mich's situation if he did not go we would not be too disappointed."
