Having made a surprise return during Jamaica’s ill-fated Concacaf Gold Cup campaign, veteran striker Michail Antonio is almost like a man reborn and is eager to remind the football world of what he is capable of.

Seven months after surviving a horrific car crash, Antonio made his first competitive appearance when he came off the bench in their Gold Cup opener against Guatemala and added some semblance of life to the Reggae Boyz attack in that 1-0 loss.

Though the West Ham United stalwart, whose contract with the English Premier League side expires at the end of this month, finds himself at a career crossroads, he remains full of purpose.

"For me, obviously it’s a bit of a surprise to be back so early, but it’s something that I’ve worked hard for and the growth that I’ve put in to be here,” Antonio said in a recent interview.

"I’m happy for the experience and happy to be here again. Hopefully, I can keep going out and show what I can do and show everybody that I’m not just back, but I’m back, and I’m playing well," he declared.

The 35-year-old's cameos at the Gold Cup may have been brief—just over 30 minutes spread across three substitute appearances—but for Antonio, every moment was a statement.

"It was very important for me, that very first game, just to prepare for it. But I felt a bit nervous. It was the very first time playing football again after the experience I’ve been through. Even walking through the changing rooms, a couple of the boys said, ‘Mike, are you alright?’ I was kind of zoned out," he shared.

However, once on the field, instinct took over and his true personality came to light.

“But obviously when the opportunity came to be on the pitch, the first sprint, the first touch, the challenges I’ve been used to because I’ve been training for quite a bit, kind of got me back," Antonio explained.

"It was like muscle memory. The body was ready for it, and I was excited. The training has carried me through. Obviously, after the games, you get a bit stiff. You have to make sure you look after your body, and that is what I’ve been doing," he added.

With his West Ham chapter closing and the Reggae Boyz entering a period of transition, Antonio is positioning himself not just as a comeback story but as a renewed asset, as he is focused on recovery, readiness, and the next chapter—wherever that may unfold. 

"So each game I’m ready, raring to go, and waiting for my opportunity to come again,” he ended.