West Ham striker Michail Antonio says he “nearly died” in the horror car crash last December which broke his leg in four places and almost ended his football career.
Antonio – West Ham’s record Premier League goalscorer – revealed he is still six to 12 months from his leg fully recovering, but he will “100 per cent play again”.
Speaking to the BBC, Antonio said: “[After the accident] I didn’t want to be seen. I was embarrassed. Obviously I’ve almost died in a crash, it just made me slightly embarrassed that it was that bad.
“I shattered my femur bone in four different places. I had one single keyhole surgery. They put a pole in my thigh with four bolts, so screws and bolts to knit it back together.”
Although the 34-year-old says he does not remember the accident, which took place while he was driving to training, he explained: “It was windy, it was wet, it was a horrific day.
“I’d had the car for three weeks and was already thinking about giving it back because the back of the car kept swinging out on me so I didn’t feel safe in the car.
“All I know is that I hit the tree, I don’t know how I hit the tree, that the police came and when they found me in the car I was in between the two seats. They said it looked like I was trying to climb out of the window but because my leg was so badly broken, the pain probably stopped me from being able to get out.
“I went to go see the car three weeks ago and it gave me a weird feeling in my stomach.”
A sports car fanatic, former Nottingham Forest forward Antonio said he now owns a Mercedes people carrier, which his brother has been driving while he recovers. He is training six days a week to aid his recovery.
Despite “the biggest injury I’ve ever had”, Antonio maintains he is still in good spirits: “I’m in a good place, I’m a good three months ahead of where I should be.
“I’ve lifted 130kg on the leg and I’m trying to do other things and just kind of focus on myself. It is definitely a good place right now and mentally I’m in a good place too.
“I was one of the quickest at West Ham. So my body wasn’t the body of a 34-year-old before I had the accident anyway. I can still be sharp and still do the business.
“People have always doubted me. My mental strength is something that I’ve always believed in and this is just another setback, and it is not going to stop me.”