David Moyes is confident that Michail Antonio is fit for the West Ham challenges that lie ahead
(Picture: PA)David Moyes says Michail Antonio is fitter than ever as West Ham prepare for a season-defining run of six games in 19 days.
That key sequence, stretched across three different competitions, starts at Southampton tonight as the Hammers bid for a place in the last eight of the FA Cup, a stage they have not reached since 2016.
While Antonio's form has been patchy - the striker has not scored since New Year's Day following a blistering start to the season - his fitness has been much improved.
The 31-year-old, West Ham's only senior striker who has also started representing Jamaica this season, has a history of hamstring injuries and has not managed more than 26 Premier League appearances in one season since 2019.
With the Hammers failing to land a striker in the January transfer window, Antonio must step up across a huge 19 days in which they will also face Sevilla in the Europa League last-16 - but Moyes says he is ready.
Asked if he had confidence in Antonio's fitness after years of problems, Moyes told Standard Sport: "Yeah I do, at the right times we didn't play him in all the games . If you look at Europe, we've tried to manage him.
"He's added Jamaica to his workload as well. I think Michail is in a far better place physically than he has been for a long, long time.
"He is in better condition, looking after himself, which maybe comes with a bit of age and experience. His record is probably about 24 Premier League games on average per season, so we've got to try and get him through more of them if we can.
"He is doing well on the fitness side, keeping himself strong and we all saw an improved Antonio against Wolves"
Antonio has made lifestyle and nutrition changes to aid his fitness this season and is seeing the benefits, an area Moyes says the forward had to tackle to continue leading the line for West Ham as they fight for European football and silverware.
"If you want to play for a club who wants to be in the cups and Europe then you better get used to playing Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday or Sunday, Thursday, Sunday when it comes along," said Moyes.
"Overall we need a robust squad and Mich has been really robust up to this time."
Moyes will allow Ukraine international Andriy Yarmolenko to decide if he feels ready to travel to Southampton this evening amid the ongoing invasion of his home country by Russia.
