Former Tottenham Hotspur striker Darren Bent has lauded Michail Antonio as undroppable for West Ham United, ahead of David Moyes’ first game in charge.
The Hammers host fellow Premier League strugglers AFC Bournemouth on New Year’s Day as they seek to start 2020 in the right way.
Antonio has featured 10 times this season and would’ve have played more if it wasn’t for a hamstring injury suffered in August.
Speaking to Football Insider, Bent was full of praise for the 29-year-old forward and suggested Moyes has to utilise him:
There’s probably players who have a lot more quality than him, but because you know what you’re going to get from him, the pace, the power, 100% effort then you can’t leave him out. You’ve got to play him, you have Yarmolenko and these guys who have more ability, but you know what you’re going to get from Antonio. So for me, he is their most important players.
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It’s unbelievable to think with the array of attacking talent West Ham have, Antonio has most likely been one of the clubs most impressive stars this season.
His energy and work rate is priceless and whilst you could definitely upgrade on him, he’s valuable to the current squad.
It’ll be interesting to see what system Moyes goes with against Bournemouth – he should get Antonio involved though.
