David Moyes has revealed Michail Antonio was not considered for Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace after being disciplined by the club.
Antonio has not featured for West Ham since December 23 but is now fit again after recovering from his latest injury woes.
The 27-year-old was expected to be included in the matchday squad on Tuesday night but Moyes revealed after the draw with Palace that his absence was down to ill-discipline and it will not be tolerated at the club.
“For disciplinary reasons he [Antonio] was not involved tonight,” Sky Sports quote Moyes as saying after the game. “He turned up late this morning for a meeting and it wasn’t the first time. I’m not having it at the club, I’ve said right from the start what it’s going to be like.
“It’s too often so I didn’t involve him tonight, otherwise I would have probably tried to get him on the bench. He’s apologised for it and because of that we move on. He’ll be back in training tomorrow morning. On time!
“He’s got a chance of being in the squad [at Brighton on Saturday], but he would have been a big help for us tonight.”
Antonio has endured a disastrous season for West Ham, which has not been helped by reoccurring muscle injuries, and he is now a long way off being in contention for a spot in the England squad for the 2018 World Cup.
The former Nottingham Forest ace has only sored one goal in 15 Premier League appearances this season, whereas he had netted eight times at this stage of the last campaign.