Antonio taking 'baby steps' towards West Ham return

Michail Antonio was part of the West Ham team which won the 2022-23 Conference League

Michail Antonio is taking "baby steps" as he continues his rehabilitation from a broken leg sustained in a car crash, says West Ham boss Graham Potter.

The 34-year-old forward had surgery on a lower limb fracture after the accident in Essex in December which led to him spending more than three weeks in hospital.

It was reported this week that Antonio, who is West Ham's all-time leading Premier League scorer with 68 goals in 268 games, is on course to return to first-team action before the end of the season.

Potter said it was "too early to say" if that was the case and he didn't "want to put that type of deadline or kind of pressure on him".

"He's tentatively out on the grass, but not so much. He's on the [anti-gravity treadmill] which helps in non-weight bearing work," Potter said.

"It's baby steps. It's day by day, week by week, and then we will see. It's great that he is making the progress he is."

Antonio was given a warm reception by West Ham fans during a pre-match walkabout on the pitch before Monday's 1-0 league defeat by Newcastle.

Potter said the Jamaica international, who turns 35 later this month, was "intelligent enough" to know when he will be ready to make a comeback after such a serious setback.

"He is very determined as you would imagine, and trying his best," added Potter.

"But at the same time you have understand what he has been through, where the start point was.

"He obviously wants to get back playing, wants to do everything, but at the same time knows the situation he's had to deal with.

"Day by day you don't make much progress, but over time you do. He just has to remember that so he can stay strong mentally."