Michail Antonio hoping for England chance
Michail Antonio’s fine 2016 form was rewarded when then England manager Sam Allardyce named the winger in his one and only international squad before being relieved of his duties after just 67 days.
Unfortunately for the former Nottingham Forest standout, he failed to get on the pitch and earn his first cap for his country and endured the same when he was included in Gareth Southgate’s first England squad.
Dropped from the most recent squad, Antonio is hoping that he has done enough to prove his worth to Southgate who was in attendance at the London Stadium last week as the Hammers drew 2-2 with West Brom.
Speaking to whufc.com, Antonio outlines how he hopes to be included for the upcoming international games against Germany and Lithuania.
“I am going to keep playing my game and if I get called up it will be great. I am not going to let it affect me and if the manager feels I have done enough he will name me in the squad.
“I have been part of the set-up before but I didn’t get to play. I just need to keep doing what I have at West Ham and hopefully I will get my opportunity.
“I played in two different positions against West Brom and I have the versatility.”
Aaron Cresswell has also broken into the England squad of late, but Antonio feels that Andy Carroll’s form should be enough for him to earn his first call-up for over three years.
“We [Carroll & I] have a good understanding playing together and things are going smoothly. He is a quality player and I definitely feel he should get a call-up.
“We missed Andy. West Brom are a big team and it would have been good to have his physicality on the pitch, but we have to make sure he is ready for the next game. If Andy keeps playing the way he is, he deserves a place in the England squad.”