Michail Antonio ‘as important’ as Jamie Vardy and Harry Kane are for Leicester and Tottenham amid West Ham’s search for back-up

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Michail Antonio is ‘as important’ to West Ham as Jamie Vardy and Harry Kane are for Leicester and Tottenham respectively, former Hammer Tony Cottee has claimed.

The 30-year-old was instrumental last season as David Moyes’ men successfully beat the drop, hitting some crucial goals to keep his side in the top-flight.

Antonio is one of West Ham’s most important players

And he has been an invaluable player for West Ham again by scoring in two of four starts since returning from injury at the end of December, netting match-winners against Burnley and West Brom.

And despite failing to score in the 3-2 victory at Crystal Palace on Tuesday evening, he was a constant threat and a big handful for the Eagles defence as the Hammers made it SIX wins on the bounce.

Cottee believes the influence Antonio’s is having can be compared to the significance of Vardy and Kane at their respective teams.

“We started off talking about how important Jamie Vardy is to Leicester. Well, Michail Antonio is that for West Ham,” Cottee, who made over 300 appearances for the Hammers in two spells, said.

Cottee believes Antonio is as important for West Ham as Kane is for Spurs

“You can say the same for Harry Kane for Spurs. When you’ve got the top strikers who bang the goals in regularly – Antonio could have had four or five the other night.

“Listen if Michail gets injured then West Ham need a centre forward.

“Jesse Lingered will be a good signing because he can play up front, there’s no doubt about it.

“ But it will be more of a false nine. I don’t like buying the January transfer window – it’s a deflated market and everyone wants a goalscorer.

“I think West Ham would be better either buying from the lower leagues, which Moyes has done very successfully by the way, and taking a chance on a £9-£10million signing or get someone in on loan and wait until the end of the season to get a proper forward in.”