Ashton curses ankle injury
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Article summary
Dean Ashton is likely to miss West Ham United FC's return to European football after a broken ankle denied him a chance to make his England debut.
Article body
Dean Ashton is likely to miss West Ham United FC's return to European football after a broken ankle sustained in training this morning ended his hopes of making his England debut against Greece on Wednesday.
FA Cup final
The 22-year-old was set to start the international friendly, the first under new coach Steve McClaren, but his place will now go to Jermain Defoe in partnership with Peter Crouch. West Ham broke their transfer record to sign Ashton from Norwich City FC for €10.5m last January, and saw their investment rewarded as he helped fire the east Londoners to the FA Cup final. Although Ashton scored in the Cardiff showpiece, Liverpool FC went on to lift the trophy.
UEFA Cup
That run earned Alan Pardew's side a spot in the UEFA Cup and West Ham will learn their first-round opponents in Monaco on Friday 25 August, by which time they will have played their opening Premiership matches against Charlton Athletic FC and Watford FC. McClaren said: "It's disappointing when a young player is given his chance and gets injured. We are just very sorry to see this happen."
