Michail Antonio has taken another huge step to returning to action with the West Ham striker back kicking balls in training with his team-mates.
The Hammers front man has not featured since breaking his leg in a horror car crash in December.
Antonio is out of contract in the summer but West Ham are understood to have offered him a short-term deal while he regains his fitness but it remains to be seen whether he will stay beyond the summer or look for a move elsewhere.
‘He’s looking at what offers he gets,’ a senior Hammers source told Mail Sport.
Antonio, the club’s record Premier League goal scorer, has been working hard to get his fitness back, flying out for some warm-weather training in Dubai in February.
‘Out of respect for Mich, I wouldn’t want to speak about his contract situation,’ said West Ham boss Graham Potter. ‘As I’ve said before, it’s a unique situation because of what he’s had to deal with. I think the club are trying their best to accommodate that and to understand that.
Michail Antonio has not featured since his horror car crash in December but is back in training
The West Ham striker was left with a broken leg back in December after his accident
Graham Potter has confirmed it was his decision to axe one of the club’s goalkeeping coaches
‘He’s training back with the team. Bit by bit, he’s getting stronger. Yes [he’s kicking balls again]. He’s getting there. He’s not back to 100 per cent, of course, but from where he was to where he is now, it’s incredible steps he’s taken.’
Meanwhile, Potter said it was his decision for West Ham to part ways with long-standing goalkeeping coach Xavi Valero and revealed he already has potential replacements lined up.
Valero has been at the club for seven years since the time of Manuel Pellegrini but Potter admitted he feels it’s time for a refresh and will depart in the summer.
The West Ham boss refused to name possible successors, but Potter could be tempted to raid former club Chelsea for their head of global goalkeeping Ben Roberts, who he worked with during his time at Stamford Bridge.
Potter has already raided his old stomping ground for backroom staff when he poached Kyle Macaulay for his new head of recruitment, though Chelsea insisted at the time that Roberts would not be following suit.
‘I’d say it’s a decision I made,’ said Potter on Valero’s departure. ‘I just got a sense that sometimes you just need to freshen things up. I have huge respect for Xavi as a man, as a goalkeeper coach. He’s been incredible for the club.
‘I’ve just got a feeling that it was good for us to have a change and so we’ll be looking to do that over the summer.
‘There’s some potentials, but again, there’s nothing to announce, but we’ve got a few ideas.’
Goalkeeping coach Xavi Valero (left) will leave the club after seven years in the summer
Chelsea head of global goalkeeping worked with Potter during his time at Stamford Bridge
Valero said: ‘It is with great sadness that I leave West Ham United, but also with great pride and appreciation for the experience of the last seven years.
‘Some memories will stay with me always – the magical night at London Stadium against Sevilla and that unforgettable evening in Prague. Moments like that ensure a connection to the club forever.
‘I’m truly grateful for the time I have been given to share with the West Ham family, which is now my own. I leave east London proud of what I have contributed and wishing the club the very best in the future.’
West Ham’s goalkeeper struggles this season were encapsulated in the defeat to Nottingham Forest last weekend when first-choice Alphonse Areola’s howler handed the visitors the lead as he passed the ball straight to Morgan Gibbs-White.
Macauley will need to work his magic in the summer too with the Hammers likely to need to sign a new keeper with another long-term servant Lukas Fabianski leaving the club.
