---
title: "West Ham fans cautious over Michail Antonio returning to starting XI"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2021/02/17/west-ham-fans-cautious-michail-antonio-start-return-spurs/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dan Clubbe"
section: "West Ham News"
published: "2021-02-17T14:00:00Z"
modified: "2021-02-17T14:00:00Z"
---

# West Ham fans cautious over Michail Antonio returning to starting XI

Ahead of Sunday’s trip [to face Tottenham](https://www.whufc.com/fixtures/first-team/fixtures-and-results), many [West Ham](https://readwestham.com/2021/02/17/west-ham-morning-news-round-up-17th-february-2021/) fans are cautious over the prospect of an instant recall to [Michail Antonio](https://readwestham.com/2021/02/08/fans-bemoan-david-moyes-fitness-update-on-michail-antonio/), who looks [set to be made available](https://theathletic.co.uk/2389089/2021/02/16/west-ham-other-ways-to-win-sustained-challenge/) for the all-London clash.

The 30-year-old has previously been [heralded as the key](https://www.football.london/west-ham-united-fc/news/west-ham-antonio-striker-transfer-19641327) to the Hammers’ success this season, but there is a compelling argument brewing to leave the talisman out of the starting XI this weekend.

Having [scored the goals](https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2020/july/11-july/michail-antonio-scoring-four-goals-amazing-feeling) to ensure the club’s survival in the Premier League last season, the striker [continued his fine form](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/michail-antonio/leistungsdaten/spieler/104124) in 2020/21 before [recurring hamstring woes](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/oct/29/west-hams-michail-antonio-out-for-a-month-with-hamstring-tear) hampered his campaign.

Hopes were [previously pinned](https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/west-ham-fc-news-michail-antonio-pablo-fornals-david-moyes-b900109.html) on Antonio before the Irons [swept aside Sheffield United](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55975613) in the frontman’s absence on Monday. That result has led to many of the east London faithful calling for the 30-year-old to be kept out of the team and used as a “super sub” [despite being available](https://www.claretandhugh.info/antonio-for-spurs-clash-update/) once again.

We’ve collated a handful of the reactions to Antonio’s fitness update from [Twitter](https://twitter.com/WHUFC_News/status/1361746249171562500)…

> Twitter: @WHUFC\_News @TheAthletic I wouldn’t start him tbf. Would rather start Lingard in a false 9 (@whugeorgee)

> Twitter: @WHUFC\_News @TheAthletic I would rather rest him and bring him on late in the game (@ScoutSoucek)

> Twitter: @WHUFC\_News @TheAthletic Rest him and keep him for a “big” game ![🙄](https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/13.0.1/svg/1f644.svg)![⚒](https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/13.0.1/svg/2692.svg) (@NelsonSteve07)

> Twitter: @WHUFC\_News @TheAthletic Personally I wouldn’t start him , same 11 again (@shaunymanning12)

> Twitter: @HAMMERDREAD @WHUFC\_News @TheAthletic I think he makes more of an impact as a super sub, he has to embrace that rol… https://t.co/fIyZzR6lMr (@Rude1982)

> Twitter: Given the way we played the other day and his fitness, I personally would start with the false 9 and then bring him… https://t.co/GPEGoE5PTU (@SeanSweeney09)