Hammers’ Antonio raring to go at Bournemouth

West Ham midfielder Michail Antonio cannot wait to make his Hammers return after missing Monday night’s defeat to Chelsea at the London Stadium.

After his dismissal in the Hammers’ 1-1 draw with Watford at Vicarage Road, Antonio was forced to watch from the stands as league-leaders Chelsea claimed a 2-1 victory in east London.

Antonio will be available for selection for Slaven Bilic’s side and admitted he will be raring to go when they travel to the south coast to take on Bournemouth, who will be brimming with confidence after a credible 1-1 draw at Old Trafford last time out.

And Antonio, who is the club’s top scorer this season with eight to his name so far, is hoping he can rediscover the form he showed against Bournemouth earlier in the season when he netted the first goal at London Stadium.

(Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

“I hate having to watch and didn’t really know what to do with myself when I was watching the game,” he said.

“You always want to play your part, but I wasn’t able to. Hopefully we can turn it around on Saturday.

“Playing Bournemouth brings back memories of my goal against them earlier in the season. It’s a good memory and good to be in the history books for the first goal at the London Stadium, so hopefully I can get another one down there.

“We’ve been on a good run away from home, and Monday’s game won’t knock us back in any way. We’ll we raring to go.”