There was a 17-year gap between Michail Antonio and the West Ham United starlet who set up the veteran striker’s second of a two-goal comeback against Boreham Wood on Friday evening.
Training and playing with Mark Robson’s Under-21 side as he weighs up his next move, the 35-year-old free-agent proved albeit against non-league opposition that he is still a force to be reckoned with in the final third.
Michail Antonio made a ‘miracle’ return for Jamaica during the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Desperate to make up for lost time following that horror car crash last December.
Friday’s 2-1 win over Boreham Wood, however, was his first appearance in club football since the turn of the year, and Antonio marked it in style. The veteran robbed a Boreham Wood defender to fire Robson’s side into a fourth-minute lead.
He would then double his tally before making way at half-time; Heading home emphatically following an impressive cross from a teenager nearly two decades his junior.
Robson feels that West Ham’s next generation can only benefit from honing their talents under Antonio’s wing. Elisha Sowunmi, an 18-year-old forward making the step up to Under-21 football, is certainly one of those hoping to make the most of Antonio’s vast experience while he can.
Elisha Sowunmi strikes up Michail Antonio partnership for West Ham United’s Under-21s
Sowunmi, who is described by the official West Ham website as a ‘versatile attacker’ capable of playing all across the frontline, signed professional terms just last month.
He was the club’s top scorer at Under-18 level last season with 16 goals. Sowunmi also provided an assist as Josh Ajala fired West Ham to U18 Premier League Cup glory towards the end of the 2024/25 campaign.
Now, with Sowunmi looking to make the step up to the Under-21 stage, Antonio became the latest centre-forward to benefit from the creativity of a teenager capable of both taking and making chances with ease.
“It’s new surroundings, so I’m just getting used to it all,” Sowunmi says of his early days in Robson’s team. “It’s been a great start.
“I’m looking forward to carrying on this momentum through the pre-season and building on from there. But yeah, it’s been a good start so far!”
Sowunmi makes his mark in Boreham Wood win
Sowunmi admits that the mere presence of Antonio, West Ham’s highest all-time Premier League goalscorer, was all the motivation he needed to fire in a cross from the flank.
“When I was on the right-hand side, I remember he was playing and I was just like; ‘If I whip this in a good area, I know that he’s going to bully the defender and get on the end of it’,” Sowunmi smiles.
“So, yeah, to see him hit the back of the net and be assisting was a great feeling. Celebrating with him and him giving us all high fives. It was great!”
Goalkeeper Fin Herrick has impressed Mark Robson already this summer, while defender Ezra Mayers trained with Graham Potter’s first-team earlier in the month.
Joel Kerr, Callum Leacock, Connor Brooks, Mohamadou Kante and former Celtic wonderkid Daniel Cummings will hope to make an impression too, as West Ham continue to make waves in the youth recruitment department.
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