FORMER Colchester United loanee Michail Antonio has fired himself into the record books - a decade on from his loan spell with the U's.

Antonio, who spent three months at the JobServe Community Stadium between August and November 2011, has overtaken Paolo Di Canio as West Ham United's top Premier League goalscorer, following his brace in their 4-1 triumph over Leicester City at the London Stadium, last night.

The forward made 16 league and cup appearances for the U's as a fresh-faced 21-year-old on loan from Reading, lighting up League One with his attacking flair and skill.

Antonio has gone on to have a fantastic career and is now just one short of a half-century of top-flight goals, helping the Hammers move to the top of the Premier League.

Antonio told Sky Sports after the match: "Last year I was disappointed with 10 goals - I was looking for 15. I have three now already this season so I am looking to beat that - maybe even get 20.

"It was a big decision for me actually to take the number nine shirt this season, as I'd been number 30 for a long time.

"But I felt like taking it and owning it and being the number nine striker at West Ham."

Asked if West Ham could stay top of the Premier League table, Antonio joked: "Obviously! And we can put a big distance between the others so no-one can catch us."

Meanwhile, West Ham boss David Moyes called Antonio "different class" following his quickfire brace against ten-man Leicester at a raucous London Stadium.

Hammers boss Moyes said: "There were a lot of good things for us tonight, the most important was three points and it was a really good performance.

"His goals are typical Mich. He can score so many. I didn't think he made the right choices in the first half but in the second half he was different class.

"He's only been at centre-forward for the last 18 months or two years. He's gone on from there and he's looking a real handful. His all-round play has improved so much."