The West Ham star has spoken of his fearless approach to the game and his belief that he deserves his place on the international stage after receiving his first England call-up.
Michail Antonio, who was named in Sam Allardyce’s latest England squad, has admitted that he prefers to play in an advanced role.
The West Ham star has been used both as a winger and a full-back by club manager Slaven Bilic, but has made the biggest impression when playing in an attacking role, scoring twice in three Premier League games in 2016-17. NaijaBet.com
Speaking to Goal at the London Stadium, the 26-year-old said that he feels more effective further up the field.
“The wing is my natural position. That’s where I love to play,” he said. “I’m a player who loves to get up the pitch, I’m a player who loves to score goals. That’s why I play football, that’s why I’ll take the wing all day.”
Antonio scored eight top-flight goals last season following his move to West Ham from Nottingham Forest and he believes that he warrants his place in the England set-up.
“Why not? If you go off my stats I’ve scored around once in every three games so far,” Antonio continued.
There are now 12 different clubs represented in the Three Lions’ squad, including Torino, the temporary home of goalkeeper Joe Hart. Injuries and fitness issues have somewhat forced the new manager’s hand, but Antonio believes that such diversity shows the depth of the Premier League.
“There’s a strong competition for those England spots right now because people who are outside the top four are starting to turn up and starting to perform,” he said. “It’s easy just to put people from the top four into the squad but there are now players from Leicester, Spurs, West Ham, who are not necessarily regulars at England but are showing that we have the sufficient quality so the England manager should be looking at these players.”
England defeated Slovakia 1-0 to get Allardyce’s reign off to a winning start in World Cup qualifying, though Antonio had to be content with a spot on the bench.
