AHEAD of what would be a sensational return to football for Michail Antonio, Reggae Boyz Head Coach Steve McClaren says the West Ham forward is needed as the national senior men’s team aims to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The 35-year-old is reportedly on the verge of returning to action for Jamaica this month, after stepping up his recovery from a near-fatal car crash last December.

Antonio was discharged from hospital last New Year’s Eve, after undergoing surgery on a leg fracture which was expected to rule him out of action for 12 months.

However in March, Antonio, in his first interview since the crash, said he had ramped up his rehabilitation programme so he could make a quick return to the field.

“It’s the biggest injury I’ve ever had in my career,” he said. “But the fact that I’m already two to three months ahead of where I should be, I know that I’ll play again and I know that once I’m playing the game, I’ll get the sharpness back.”

On Tuesday McClaren said he was shocked by the progress Antonio was making and says he could be available for Jamaica’s crucial games in the coming weeks, starting with the Unity Cup in London as early as this coming Tuesday.

“It’s unbelievable and shows the mentality of Michail that he has an accident in which he was lucky to survive,” McClaren said. “I’ve kept in touch since and I can’t believe it. I think February or March time I was speaking to him and he said, ‘Pencil me in for the Unity Cup,’ which we’ve got next week in the UK, and he said, ‘Definitely pencil me in there for the World Cup Qualifiers and the Gold Cup.’

“I said, ‘You’ve got to be joking,’ but I spoke to him last week and I think he’s hoping to be on the bench for West Ham’s last game — which would be an unbelievably emotional day for Michail — so hope he makes that and hope he gets fit.”

McClaren named Antonio in the provisional 60-man squad for the Concacaf Gold Cup next month, with the final squad set to be submitted on June 4. The Jamaica Observer understands the squad for the Unity Cup — during which Jamaica will play Trinidad and Tobago, and Nigeria or Ghana — will be announced on Thursday but it’s unclear whether he will be selected.

McClaren says Antonio, who has five goals in 21 appearances for the Reggae Boyz, is a vital part of the squad as they work towards their objectives.

“We want him with us, not just with playing potential but as a leader of the team,” McClaren said. “He’s so vital; we’ve missed that in the games since [his absence] and it’s so apparent. People will have to step forward but Michail we’re hoping can take some part in the World Cup Qualifiers and the Gold Cup coming up.”

Antonio’s last game for Jamaica was last October at the National Stadium in a goalless draw with Honduras during the Concacaf Nations League.

West Ham’s all-time leading goalscorer in the English Premier League with 68 goals hasn’t played a professional game since the club’s 3-1 away defeat to Leicester City on December 3 — four days before the car crash in Essex.

Antonio, whose contract runs out with the club this summer, has reportedly been offered a short-term contract extension which includes a reduced base salary and performance-based incentives.

Reggae Boyz Leon Bailey (left) and Devon Williams celebrate with teammate Michail Antonio (centre) after the latter scored Jamaica’s equalising goal against the USA in their Concacaf Final Round World Cup Qualifier at National Stadium on Tuesday, November 16, 2021