Michail Antonio is “hopeful” he can win the Golden Boot this season after netting the winner for West Ham against Leeds United on Saturday.
Antonio, 31, struck in the 90th minute to make it six goals in six appearances for the Hammers this season, five of which have come in the Premier League.
He is currently topping the scoring charts alongside Jamie Vardy and Mohamed Salah, and is looking to maintain that position for as long as possible.
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“I was never in doubt,” Antonio told Match of the Day after the game.
“When it opened up for me one vs one, with all the goal to aim for, I’d always back myself to score, especially with the form I am in.
“Six goals in six, let’s keep going and let’s keep scoring.
“Definitely [I like seeing my name at the top of the scoring charts], hopefully it can be there at the end of the season.”
Speaking after Antonio was awarded the Premier League Player of the Month award for August, David Moyes, the West Ham manager, said of his performances (via BBC Sport): “It says a lot about how he started the season because his goals have been excellent for us and his play has been very good.
“He came back in pre-season in good condition and worked very hard during that period. He’s been terrific for us and long may that continue.
“We are going to have to manage him but I do think he’s in a better place than he has been before.
“Obviously you can get an injury which can put you out. We’ve brought in other people who can maybe score goals in another way, but we’ll have to try and use him at the right times and in the right way.”
On Antonio’s performance yesterday, Moyes said: “The goalkeeper made a really good save from Michail after four or five minutes, and he missed a few chances, but that’s what happens if you keep your strikers on – they can get their goal.
“There were periods of the game when it might not have been Micky’s best game, but he got us what we needed in the end and it was a great win.”
