Source: SKY_Sports
Ashton concern for Zola
// A bit of a hack but it works// The article snippet is wrapped onto a second line, even when #article-sub is emptyif( $("div#article-sub").children().length == 0 ) {$("div#article-sub").remove();} West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola still has no idea when Dean Ashton will be fit enough to return to his first-team plans.[LNB] The striker has seen question marks raised over his career due to an ankle injury which has kept him out of action since September last year.[LNB]Former Norwich ace Ashton initially broke his left ankle in 2006 before suffering a problem in the same area and is still training on his own with personal coach John Green away from Zola's squad.[LNB]No comeback date has been set for the £7.25million signing and Zola admitted the situation surrounding the 25-year-old is worrying.[LNB]Serious"The problem he had was quite serious, it was more serious than anybody thought," Zola said. "It has been one year and obviously I am getting concerned about it.[LNB]"I can't say 'I'll give you three months', I can't force his progress along. But I do respect his willingness to come back and I am going to be supportive to him, not the one who is pushing him."[LNB]There have been rumours that Ashton has considered retirement, but Zola added: "We have not discussed that at all and anyway he knows I trust him and whatever he does I have been trying to help and will keep trying to help him."[LNB]Ashton suffered his initial injury while on England duty and was out for a year, before coming back and earning a place in Fabio Capello's squad after 11 goals in the 2008 season.[LNB]After suffering his setback he missed the rest of the 2008/09 campaign, which was frustrating for Zola in his rookie season as a Premier League manager.[LNB]Hopes"He is one of the players that I have had a lot of hopes for," he said. "I have been waiting one year and I have not had him.[LNB]"According to everyone, including myself, he was one of the best players of the team. He made my job much more difficult.[LNB]"I am very sorry for the boy and I imagine what he is going through and that he is suffering a lot. All my thoughts are with him. I wish that he will find his way forward as soon as possible."[LNB]Training on his own means Ashton has had limited contact with his striker.[LNB]"I have not interacted with him very much because he has been out," Zola said. "He knows that I want him very much and he is one of the players that if I had him on the pitch our performances would have been better."[LNB]
