Jarrod Bowen Reveals West Ham Dressing Room's Concerns Following Michail Antonio's Car Crash

West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen is confident that Michail Antonio will come back stronger once he has fully recovered from his car crash.

Antonio was hospitalised on Saturday after crashing his Ferrari into a tree in Essex. The 34-year-old was trapped in the wreckage for nearly an hour before emergency services were able to free him.

He has since undergone surgery for a fractured lower limb and remains in a London hospital for observation. West Ham will play Wolves in the Premier League on Monday night and plan to send a message of support to their injured teammate before kick-off.

"It's been one of those things you never thought you'd be involved in," Bowen told Sky Sports. "Mic has been here longer than I have. Everyone loves him, he's a big character in here. Those few hours on Saturday were tough as we waited for news.

"He's not just a team-mate, he's a friend of ours for many years, a dad as well to beautiful children. You see the support. I want to say thank you for the support from everyone, as captain.

"I've seen all the messages and it's one of those times where life was bigger than football. Everyone came together. For me, I truly appreciate that. The good thing is Mic is safe, and he's here to tell the story. Mic's a warrior, Mic's a fighter, he has been throughout his career. So he will be back stronger from this."

West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui believes Antonio was fortunate to escape with his life. "It has been very tough for all of us, but especially for him and his family," he said. "Fortunately, he's a miracle, considering the state of the car from the pictures.

"There are more important things: the dad, the brother, the son that he is. This is more important about Mic. We are happy because he has overcome the surgery. After, let's see. We talked with him today. The most important thing is he was a miracle."

• West Ham vs Wolverhampton Prediction, Odds & Betting Tips 12/09/2024
• Leicester vs West Ham Prediction, Odds & Betting Tips 12/03/2024

Former West Ham manager Slaven Bilic has expressed confidence that Antonio will come back stronger. "We were all shocked when we saw the pictures from the accident, but thank God he's alright," he told Sky Sports News.

"Knowing Mikey, having signed him from Forest in 2015, and understanding his mentality, character, and strength, I’m sure he will come out on top in this tough battle. We’re all relieved that he’s okay, and while the recovery will be long, we all wish him the best."

Bilic also believes West Ham will be extra motivated in their next match. "You could say the players will be playing for Michail, which will help motivate them even more," he added.

West Ham vs Arsenal Prediction, Odds & Betting Tips 11/30/2024

[England Premier League Prediction] Who will reign supreme in the West Ham vs Arsenal showdown? Our prediction analysts provide betting tips and current odds for this highly anticipated match.