SAM YES TO ANTONIO
SAM ALLARDYCE last night launched a new era for England by handing a shock call-up to West Ham’s Michail Antonio. Uncapped Hammers winger Antonio (left) was the surprise name in Allardyce’s first squad as Three Lions boss. And Big Sam flexed his muscles ahead of Sunday’s World Cup qualifier in Slovakia by dumping two of Roy Hodgson’s midfielders.
Arsenal’s injury-hit star Jack Wilshere has been axed. And Everton playmaker Ross Barkley, who did not get to play at Euro 2016, was also omitted despite two goals in four games this season. Allardyce revealed the door is not closed on any player left out of his first 23-man squad.
He said: “It is hard on the basis that it is my first one.
“In the end a decision had to be made and it will be open for debate. More so than ever because I am now in the hot seat.
“The whole nation is watching me for next week and hopefully we have made the right choices.
“Anybody who has been in the squad before, we will continue to monitor and watch the players.
“If someone is playing particularly well, like I think Antonio is, it may change.”
Barkley and Wilshere being chopped are among five changes
SAM ALLARDYCE described it as a great journey for Michail Antonio.
From playing in front of a few hundred fans eight years ago in non-League football to possibly lining up for England against Slovakia in a World Cup qualifier. It certainly is quite a remarkable one.
Antonio, 26, was the shock inclusion in Allardyce’s first England squad with more than a few eyebrows raised when he was on the 23-man list revealed last night.
In 2008 he was playing for Tooting and Mitcham United at Imperial Fields in Morden. He could have started his youth career at Tottenham only for his mum, Cislyn, felt it was too far away from their south-west London home.
It certainly put a few extra miles on the journey to the top.
But the trek from non-League to Premier League was completed last year on deadline day with a £7m move from Nottingham Forest to West Ham.
Now 31 appearances and 11 goals later, he is in the England squad for the first time.
“I think he’s in outstanding form,” said new England boss Allardyce, about the player who also had stints at Reading, Cheltenham, Southampton, Colchester and Sheffield Wednesday along the way.
Athlete
“This is another lad with a great journey – it’s a fantastic journey that he’s been on, from non-League to now an international call-up.
“He scored nine goals in his first season (at West Ham) and he’s a terrific athlete, a good crosser and a goalscorer.
“I’m looking forward to him coming and looking forward to meeting everybody.
“Hopefully we will have a good few days of preparation and get to know each other on the basis of trying to go and win in Slovakia.”
Antonio – who scored for West Ham in yesterday’s 3-1 defeat by Manchester City – has been listed as a midfielder by Allardyce and Hammers fans will know he is much better in attack than defence.
In fact, his display against Chelsea two weeks ago, in which he gave away a penalty at right-back, led to the club’s shirt sponsors Betway even criticising him on Twitter. However, new England boss Allardyce has not been put off by his indifferent defensive displays and will surely use him in attack where he mostly impressed last season.
For Antonio his decision to snub Jamaica – who he also qualifies to play for – has been vindicated.
“Jamaica called up for me but I feel that if I keep doing what I am doing, hopefully I can get a call-up to England,” Antonio said earlier this year.
“You can see it with Dele Alli who has come from League One and is already in the England squad. You see it with Jamie Vardy. Hopefully I can get the call up as well.”
Now his time has come to show that he can become a regular fixture like Alli and Vardy.