MICHAIL ANTONIO has vowed the broken leg he suffered in a serious car accident in December “is not going to stop me” as he works on a return to football.

The 34-year-old was hospitalised on December 7 after his car collided with a tree, with the striker cut free from the wreckage by firefighters.

He is continuing his rehabilitation, having resumed running and received a warm reception when he was presented on the pitch at the London Stadium on Monday ahead of the Hammers’ 1-0 defeat by Newcastle.

In an interview to be broadcast in full on BBC Morning Live tomorrow, Antonio said: “I’m 100 per cent [sure] I will be back on the pitch. This is what I focus on, this is why I’m in six days a week.

“Mentally, I believe so too because I never give up. I’m always focused, I’m always pushing myself. This is just another setback and this is not going to stop me.”

This week, Hammers boss Graham Potter refused to put a timeline on Antonio’s return, saying he did not want to put pressure on the player by setting deadlines.

Antonio is West Ham’s all-time leading Premier League goalscorer with 68.