HAMMERS HEARTBEAT Bilic: All-action Antonio merits England call
SLAVEN BILIC believes Michail Antonio’s red-hot form for West Ham this season should see him back in the England fold.
He is back from suspension for the trip to Bournemouth today having scored the winner against the Cherries in August in the Hammer’s first Premier League game at their new London Stadium home.
With Gareth Southgate finalising his squad for this month’s games against Germany and Lithuania, Bilic sees no reason why Antonio should not be in the frame.
“I’m his club manager and I’m not objective,” said Bilic. “But I don’t see many strikers or wingers playing better than him.
“Dele Alli got his chance and grabbed it in the first game against France, the friendly game. He scored. Same with Jamie Vardy.
“If Mikey continues like this or improves it’s going to come to him.”
Antonio was called up for Sam Allardyce’s one and only squad last summer but did not play.
This season he has eight goals in the league and three assists, to attract interest from Chelsea.
Bilic added: “The categories that really matter are high intensity and sprinting. They are the most important ones. Mikey is our best player in both of them.
“He gives you that kind of boost of energy. He opens the spaces and then, if you add goals that he scores, he’s vital for us.
“Players like Kante, Michail, Cheikhou Kouyate, they can run for ever because they’re born like that. Their muscles, their heart most of all, their lungs are ideal for that.
“Then you have some players who can do it naturally but are a little bit lazy. You have to push them. Michail has natural ability, he wants to do it and maybe the most important one he can do it at high intensity. He’s quick, he’s got pace, that’s why we talk about him a lot.”
West Ham have lost only two of their last seven games, to Chelsea and Manchester City respectively.
Although Bournemouth are struggling at the other end of the table with five defeats in their last seven, Bilic believes their point at Manchester United last weekend served as a warning for his players not to take them lightly.
“Sometimes the wounded lion is the most dangerous one. But are we going to be afraid? No.”