Mark Noble has revealed Michail Antonio is at West Ham’s training ground doing gym work as he eyes a return to football.
The West Ham striker has been sidelined since December after crashing his Ferrari into a tree.
Antonio underwent surgery on a lower limb fracture following the horrifying crash.
He was subsequently ruled out for the rest of the season and could face up to a year out of action.
However, Noble has revealed the 35-year-old is making remarkable progress five months on from the crash.
The former Hammers captain, who played alongside Antonio, is now the club’s sporting director.
Speaking on Drive, Noble explained: “To be honest, if you look at him, he’s a freak of nature. I mean, how he got out of that car in the first place.
“But I saw him yesterday at the training ground and he’s walking about freely, he’s in the gym doing stuff.
“So, I think Antonio’s realised that he’s a very lucky boy to walk away and he accepts that, but it’s just great to see him around, he’s such a good character.”
When asked if the club’s plan is to get Antonio back playing, he added: “I think for himself, just to get back. If he can play at some sort, then fantastic.
“But I think he’s still got a lot of rehab to do with the injury he got but as I say, just to actually see him here and being with the boys is great.”
It comes after Antonio himself was asked whether he will return to the pitch last month.
GettyAntonio previously vowed he would ‘100 per cent’ return to football[/caption]
The Jamaica international told the BBC: “Yes, 100 per cent. I will play again.”
He also revealed how he would have handled the crash if he had not previously gone to therapy.
It had played an important role following the death of his father and end of his previous marriage, which impacted how he celebrated West Ham’s Conference League triumph in 2023.
Antonio explained: “I wouldn’t have processed it at all, or what I would have done would be to push it down and been angry or aggressive.
“Since the crash, I’ve been more emotional than I have ever been in my life, but I feel like it’s better.
“Therapy is one of the best things that’s happened to me in my life.”
The forward’s contract at the London Stadium is currently set to expire at the end of the season.
It is understood the Hammers will make a decision on extending his deal in the summer.
Since joining the club in 2015, Antonio has scored 83 goals in 323 appearances across all competitions.
Those strikes include 68 in the Premier League, the most of any player in West Ham’s history.
