England manager Sam Allardyce has heaped praise of West Ham winger Michail Antonio following his maiden call up to the England squad.
The 26-year-old is the only uncapped player to be names in the manager’s maiden England squad, who are set to face Slovakia in a World Cup qualifier on Sunday.
Antonio has drawn praise after a strong start to the season, having scored twice in three games, including an impressive performance in West Ham’s 3-1 loss to Manchester City yesterday.
“This is another lad with a great journey – it’s a fantastic journey that he’s been on, from non-league to now an international call-up,” Allardyce told reporters.
“He scored nine goals in his first season and he’s a terrific athlete, a good crosser and a goal-scorer.”
“Hopefully we will have a good few days’ preparation and get to know each other on the basis of trying to go and win in Slovakia.”
The winger could not hide his happiness following the call-up.
“I got slightly emotional when I found out. It’s just one of those things that I’ve always dreamt of playing for England as a kid, so now for it to happen after I’ve worked my way from non-league to where I am now, I am just so happy,” Antonio said.
“I just give my all every time I go on the field, so for me to called-up by England, I don’t know what to say! All I can do is go out there on the international stage and show there is a reason why the gaffer has called me up.”
“I turned down an approach from Jamaica in March and for this to happen so quickly, I’m buzzing,” the winger also revealed.
The call-up caps off an astronomical rise for Antonio who was playing non-league football back in 2008, before the joining West Ham in the Premier League from Nottingham Forest last summer.
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