Poor dude, really was a super player when he could manage it. S. Reid next for the premature knacker's yard I fear.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/dec/11/dean-ashton-retires-west-ham
Dean Ashton retires as West Ham striker succumbs to ankle injury
• 26-year-old suffered injury in 2006 on England duty
• PFA urges Ashton not to sue over tackle
Dean Ashton has retired, West Ham have confirmed. Photograph: Michael Regan/Action Images
West Ham United's Dean Ashton has been forced to retire through injury. The 26-year-old striker has struggled to recover from an injury he first suffered on England duty in August 2006 following a training-ground tackle by Shaun Wright-Phillips.
West Ham's chief executive, Scott Duxbury, told the club's website: "This is a sad day and our thoughts are with Dean. I would like to place on record our thanks to him for all his efforts and wish him the very best. I would also like to thank the fans for their patience and understanding during what has been a difficult time."
It was reported last night that Ashton is looking into whether he can take legal action against Wright-Phillips and Chelsea, for whom the winger – now with Manchester City – was then playing. Chelsea would challenge any such case given that the tackle was made while Wright-Phillips was with England.
Ashton returned the following year to play again for West Ham and went on to win his sole England cap in 2008 but the ankle injury recurred last season and he has been advised by the surgeon who performed the original operation, Niek van Dijk, that he risks rendering himself permanently unable to walk should he continue playing football.
West Ham have been examining whether they are able to launch a compensation claim of around £7m against the Football Association.
Ashton made his name at Crewe Alexandra before joining Norwich City in January 2005. He scored 18 goals in 46 appearances for the Canaries, earning him a then club-record £7.25m move to West Ham. He was named in Steve McClaren's first England squad, for the game against Greece at Old Trafford, but picked up his injury in training before the game.
The striker missed the whole 2006-07 season but returned to make 35 appearances in 2007-08. He started the 2008-09 season, but broke down again after just four games because of the ankle injury.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/dec/11/dean-ashton-retires-west-ham
Dean Ashton retires as West Ham striker succumbs to ankle injury
• 26-year-old suffered injury in 2006 on England duty
• PFA urges Ashton not to sue over tackle
- Press Association
- guardian.co.uk, Friday 11 December 2009 09.33 GMT
- Article history
West Ham United's Dean Ashton has been forced to retire through injury. The 26-year-old striker has struggled to recover from an injury he first suffered on England duty in August 2006 following a training-ground tackle by Shaun Wright-Phillips.
West Ham's chief executive, Scott Duxbury, told the club's website: "This is a sad day and our thoughts are with Dean. I would like to place on record our thanks to him for all his efforts and wish him the very best. I would also like to thank the fans for their patience and understanding during what has been a difficult time."
It was reported last night that Ashton is looking into whether he can take legal action against Wright-Phillips and Chelsea, for whom the winger – now with Manchester City – was then playing. Chelsea would challenge any such case given that the tackle was made while Wright-Phillips was with England.
Ashton returned the following year to play again for West Ham and went on to win his sole England cap in 2008 but the ankle injury recurred last season and he has been advised by the surgeon who performed the original operation, Niek van Dijk, that he risks rendering himself permanently unable to walk should he continue playing football.
West Ham have been examining whether they are able to launch a compensation claim of around £7m against the Football Association.
Ashton made his name at Crewe Alexandra before joining Norwich City in January 2005. He scored 18 goals in 46 appearances for the Canaries, earning him a then club-record £7.25m move to West Ham. He was named in Steve McClaren's first England squad, for the game against Greece at Old Trafford, but picked up his injury in training before the game.
The striker missed the whole 2006-07 season but returned to make 35 appearances in 2007-08. He started the 2008-09 season, but broke down again after just four games because of the ankle injury.
