Jamaica manager Steve McClaren has confirmed that West Ham United centre-forward Michail Antonio will not feature in the upcoming Nations League match against the United States.
Antonio has rendered himself unavailable for the most bizarre reason.
He and Charlton’s Kaheim Dixon have lost their passports ahead of Tuesday night’s mouth-watering clash against Mauricio Pochettino’s US side in St Louis, Missouri.
After losing the first leg of their CONCACAF Nations League play-off tie 1-0, the Reggae Boyz must pull off an epic second-leg comeback to reach the semi-finals.
However, they’ll have to make do without Antonio.
“Antonio and Dixon lost passports. It was too late to get new ones and to get visas to come over here, so they are missing,” McClaren said, as reported by the Daily Mirror.
Despite the best attempts of the Jamaican FA to secure emergency visas, both players will watch football on TV instead of helping their side on the pitch.
Antonio’s absence is a relief for West Ham, considering they’ll avoid a potential injury scare amid Julen Lopetegui’s last-ditch attempt to salvage his managerial career in London.
West Ham headed into November’s international break in dire form after a tepid 0-0 home draw against fellow bottom-half strugglers Everton left them only four places above 18th-placed Crystal Palace.
It was the Hammers’ third winless Premier League outing in their last four as the pressure continues to build on Lopetegui.
With only three wins from his first 11 games in charge, the Spaniard faces heavy scrutiny ahead of an ominous-looking trip to St James’ Park to take on Newcastle United.
Since a 2-0 win at Palace in August, Lopetegui’s men have gone four consecutive away league games without winning, averaging less than one goal per match.
Antonio shoulders much of the blame.
He was supposed to be West Ham’s standout attacker in the absence of Niclas Fullkrug.
However, he has only bagged one Premier League goal from 11 appearances so far.