West Ham’s record [Premier League](https://www.claretandhugh.info/premier-league-bio/) goal scorer Michail Antonio was the surprise inclusion for the under-21s this evening at Rush Green.
The academy side faced Nottingham Forest and eventually slipped to a 1-0 defeat, but it was Antonio’s appearance -which drew the attention. The 35-year-old, released by West Ham earlier this summer, is continuing to play for the U21s in an effort to build up his fitness as he rehabilitates from the horrific car crash he suffered last December.
Mikey looked in decent shape, chasing lost causes with his usual energy, and there were no obvious signs in his movement of the multiple leg fractures sustained just before Christmas. His commitment will have pleased club medical staff, even if the result didn’t go West Ham’s way.
Unfortunately, the night was far less positive for young midfielder Mohamadou Kanté, who caught the eye last week with an impressive cameo against Woking. This time, however, it was an outing to forget. He was fortunate to avoid a red card after a reckless second-half challenge and his evening went from bad to worse when a sloppy pass inside his own half handed Forest the opener – a gift they gratefully accepted to seal the win.
It will be remembered as a frustrating night for Kanté, but the bigger picture remains Antonio’s encouraging steps towards recovery.