Michail Antonio has been training with a rival Premier League club as the former West Ham forward seeks to continue his career after breaking his leg in a serious car crash.
The Jamaica international was driving through Epping Forest last December when he lost control of his Ferrari and crashed into a tree.
The 35-year-old had to be cut loose by emergency services after being trapped in the wreckage for more than 45 minutes.
After being taken hospital, Antonio learned that his leg was badly broken, with his femur shattering in four places.
But after an impressive recovery that saw him training just four months after the collision, Antonio and his club took the decision not to extend his deal after the two parties were unable to agree on new terms.
West Ham had announced in August that they would continue to offer Antonio ‘access to training, facilities and medical care if needed’.
Michail Antonio has been training with a rival Premier League club after leaving West Ham
The forward first joined the east London club 10 years ago and became a lynchpin in the side
The club stressed that discussions were continuing over ‘future involvement’ at the club in an alternative capacity.
Antonio had featured for West Ham’s Under-21s in a match in August, but is now training at rival Premier League club Brentford.
The forward, who is West Ham’s record Premier League goalscorer, is understood to live close to Brentford’s training ground.
Reports have claimed the Bees are not expected to offer Antonio a contract despite allowing him to train with Keith Andrews’ side.
Jamaica boss Steve McClaren expressed hope Antonio will be able to secure a deal in the near future, but revealed the forward had sustained an injury setback to rule him out of their latest squad.
‘Michail Antonio has been training with Brentford, doing very well,’ McClaren said.
‘Unfortunately he has pulled a calf and will be two of three weeks out.
‘He is still training with Brentford so hopefully something will work out with that.’
Antonio has been training with Keith Andrews’ Brentford after leaving West Ham in August
The forward hopes to play for Jamaica at the World Cup but is out of their latest squad with injury
Antonio has recently pivoted to punditry roles, but has insisted he wants to resume his football career.
‘No, definitely not,’ Antonio told talkSPORT when asked if he would be focusing on media duties full-time.
‘I’m speaking to clubs right now to see where the best offer is for me to go, and we’ll just see how it goes.
‘To be honest, there’s a mixture, we’re talking to clubs here, we’re talking to clubs abroad, but I’m going to leave it very vague – talk to clubs in England and abroad.’
Antonion added that it was his aim ‘100 per cent’ to feature for his country at next year’s 2026 World Cup in north America.
‘That’s one thing I’ve not managed to achieve for myself, to be playing in the World Cup, and Jamaica are very close to it.’
Jamaica boss Steve McClaren revealed Antonio has a calf injury but will be fit again soon
Antonio was on punditry duty for TNT Sports coverage of the Europa League last week
But, Antonio continued, ‘it’s not just that, I just wouldn’t want my career to come to an end by a car crash, literally.
‘So I’ve got something to prove to show that I can come back, I can come back and play well, which I was doing for the last 10 years.
‘Even before I did the car crash, I was starting for West Ham, so it shows I’ve still got that ability about me and I can do it again.’
