West Ham's Michail Antonio: I nearly died in car crash

The 34-year-old forward revealed he "nearly died" when his car collided with a tree in Epping, Essex, on December 7, leaving his leg "completely shattered."

Despite the severity of the crash, Antonio is determined to make a comeback to football, claiming that his recovery is progressing much faster than anticipated.

When asked by the BBC if he could return to his previous level of performance, Antonio confidently responded, "Yes, 100 percent. I will play again." In the interview published on Monday, he acknowledged that he had been forced to consider the possibility of retiring but remains resolute in his return.

He further elaborated, saying, "That's what I am focused on and why I am working six days a week." Antonio maintained a positive outlook despite the traumatic event. "It's a horrendous accident, and it's a massive injury. It's the biggest injury I've ever had in my career. But the fact that I'm already two to three months ahead of where I should be, I know that I'll play again, and I know that once I'm playing the game I'll get the sharpness back."

Antonio reflected on his physical condition prior to the accident, stating, "I was one of the quickest at West Ham. So my body wasn't the body of a 34-year-old before I had the accident anyway. I can still be sharp and still do the business."

His resilience and determination shine through, especially when he said, "People have always doubted me. My mental strength is something that I've always believed in and this is just another setback, and it is not going to stop me."

Antonio had been a crucial part of West Ham's squad this season despite the arrival of several new players. He made 15 appearances under manager Julen Lopetegui before the accident, which took place prior to Graham Potter's appointment in January.

The injury itself was severe, with Antonio explaining, "I shattered my femur bone in four different places." He underwent a single keyhole surgery, during which a pole was inserted into his thigh and secured with four bolts to aid in the healing process.

"The first surgeon said he didn't want me to put any weight on my leg for three months, which is around about now, and you can see that I am walking," Antonio explained. "We got a second specialist who said I needed to start putting weight on it, increasing from 10% up to 100 percent within three weeks."

Despite the advice, Antonio kept using crutches for an additional two weeks. He concluded, "Overall, they say it will be between six to 12 months before my leg starts healing properly."

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