Michail Antonio: West Ham confirm plans to show support for striker after car crash

West Ham players will show their support for team-mate Michail Antonio ahead of Monday night’s crunch game against Wolves.

Hammers forward Antonio was taken to hospital on Saturday after being involved in a road traffic accident in Essex, later undergoing surgery on a lower limb fracture.

The 34-year-old will remain in hospital to be monitored and recover over the coming days, with the club saying in their latest update on Sunday night: “Everyone at the club wishes Michail a speedy recovery and wishes to express its sincere gratitude to the football family at large for the overwhelming support shown since yesterday’s news, as well as extending a heartfelt thank you to the emergency services and first responders who attended to Michail in the immediate aftermath of the incident, and the medical team who continue to aid him in his recovery.”

West Ham must now try their best to refocus on events on the pitch, with a crucial match against Wolves coming up at the London Stadium on Monday evening.

The club have now confirmed that their players will show their support for Antonio ahead of that game by walking out of the tunnel in shirts bearing his name and also warming up in tops with ‘Antonio 9’ on them.

West Ham will then on Monday night auction off those shirts to be signed by the whole squad including Antonio, with the proceeds being split between the NHS and Air Ambulances UK Charity. The West Ham board have also pledged to match the money raised during the auction.

Monday’s game - labelled ‘El Sackico’ - is a hugely important one for both managers, with Julen Lopetegui and Wolves counterpart Gary O’Neil both under mounting pressure at their respective clubs. It is thought that a bad result for either may well leave them on the brink of being dismissed.