West Ham forward Michail Antonio sent a message to the Premier League club’s fans on Tuesday after being discharged from the hospital as he continues his recovery following a car crash in early December.
“Happy New Year – and I’ll be back on that pitch soon,” Antonio wrote in a message posted by the club on its official website.
Antonio, 34, needed surgery on a lower limb fracture after a one-car incident outside London on 7 December, and is expected to face a lengthy spell of rehabilitation.
The Jamaica international needed to be released from his vehicle after getting trapped during the incident in Essex, sparking great concern among fans. To their relief, it was soon confirmed that Antonio was in a stable condition.
“Every year around this time, I’m asked what I’m grateful for, and every year I’ve struggled to find the right words,” Antonio said in his message. “But this year, I know exactly what I’m grateful for: being alive.”
Antonio thanked everyone who had helped him, including emergency services, the air ambulance “and everyone from top to bottom at West Ham United FC.”
West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui previously called the outcome of the crash a “miracle”, and he addressed the rest of Antonio’s season at a press conference on Thursday. He said: “Michail is going to be out for a long time for sure, it’s that kind of injury. But it’s good news that he’s at home, he’s enjoying his family, and for sure he’s going to try to recover as soon as possible. But we are not going to have Antonio for a long time.”
Antonio has made more than 300 appearances for West Ham since joining from Nottingham Forest in 2015, and played in all 14 games this season before the incident.
In the first game after the accident, West Ham players wore “Antonio 9” shirts ahead of kickoff against Wolverhampton at the London Stadium, with the kit signed by the players – including Antonio – then auctioned off with around “close to £60,000” going to the NHS Charities Together and Air Ambulances UK.
“Everyone at the club would like to reiterate their heartfelt thanks to the first responders, emergency services, air ambulance staff and the NHS for the incredible support given to Michail in the wake of the accident,” West Ham said in an earlier statement on Tuesday.
Antonio is West Ham’s all-time leading scorer in the Premier League with 68 goals from 268 games.
