West Ham The players showed their support for injured teammate Mikel Antonio Premier League A home win against Wolverhampton, two days after the car crash.
The 34-year-old Jamaica international is recovering in hospital after undergoing surgery on what West Ham described as a “lower limb fracture”.
He was involved in a car accident outside London on Sunday (AEDT), after which he was airlifted to hospital and kept under intensive care.
Read more: The Indian media has turned the captain into a spat with teammates
Read more: He is the most talked about name in Aussie sports. Bosses want us to cool it
Read more: The ‘comfort zone’ call behind the Origin star’s shock defection
Antonio was trapped in the car for about 45 minutes as fire crews tried to extricate him from his vehicle. He wished the team well through a video before the match.
West Ham United players wearing tops in support of Mikel Antonio. West Ham United FC via Getty Images
Players get hot as they walk onto the field wearing “Antonio 9” jerseys.
The club will put walk-out tops up for auction along with every match jersey worn against Wolves, with proceeds going to medical charities and matched by the board.
West Ham fans at the London Stadium gave Antonio a standing ovation in the ninth minute and when captain Jarrod Bowen scored a second-half goal in a 2–1 win, he approached the supporters behind the goal with Antonio’s jersey.
“To share that moment, he’s not here with us but I’m sure he was watching and the fans, you heard them,” Bowen told broadcaster Sky Sports.
West Ham United’s Jarrod Bowen lifts Mikel Antonio’s shirt after scoring his side’s second goal. Camerasport via Getty Images
“An emotional day.”
Before the game, Bowen said, “Everybody loves Mike, he’s a big character.
“He’s not just a teammate, he’s a friend and has been for many years. A father to beautiful children too. It’s one of those things where life is bigger than football. The main thing is that Mike is safe and well and here to tell the story.
“Saturday (Sunday AEDT) was a really tough time. He’s a fighter and a fighter, he always has been and I know he’ll be stronger for it.”
Antonio has made over 300 appearances for West Ham since joining the club from Nottingham Forest in 2015 and had played 14 games this season before the incident.
Reports after the incident suggested that the Jamaican may be forced to retire from the game due to his injury.
