On December 7, Antonio was taken to the hospital after his Ferrari crashed into a tree in Epping, Essex. The incident left him with a lower leg fracture and his £260k Ferrari destroyed. He had to spend 24 days in hospital before being discharged to continue his recovery at home.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Antonio flew to Dubai for a 12-day warm-weather training camp, during which the 34-year-old has shown remarkable progress. As part of his recovery, the striker has already begun light jogging and gym work, with sprinting, jumping, and ball work expected to be the next steps.
WHAT GRAHAM POTTER SAID
West Ham manager, Graham Potter, while provided an update on Antonio’s condition, said: "I think that's a really good phase of the rehabilitation for him. As far as I know from all the reports from the medical guys, it's moving in the right direction. It's a case of not rushing that one but certainly it's positive. It's just more about slowly getting back onto the pitch, more pitch-based stuff but in probably a slightly warmer environment than Rush Green in February."
Despite his progress, Potter refused to commit to a return date for the striker.
"I wouldn't be thinking anything this side of the international break for sure," he said.
"As I said, with the severity of the injury and the incident, the most important thing is that he takes the space and time that he needs with the medical people. Then Mick being Mick, as soon as he feels ready, he's going to be ready."
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DID YOU KNOW?
Antonio was not the only West Ham player utilising Dubai’s warmer climate for rehabilitation. Niclas Fullkrug, who suffered a hamstring injury in Graham Potter’s first match as manager – a 2-1 FA Cup defeat to Aston Villa – also trained in the UAE.