West Ham United FC

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Ashton out until next year

27 Sep 2008 - 15:08:21

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West Ham United have upgraded their assessment of Dean Ashton's injured ankle after revealing the striker is now likely to be sidelined until the new year.

Earlier in the week, the Hammers released a statement claiming the injury-plagued England striker would be out of action for a month following 'arthroscopic surgery to his left ankle'.

That operation is due to take place next week but the Upton Park club have already suggested their initial estimate of a month's absence was off the mark.

"Manager Gianfranco Zola will be without Ashton, who is set to be missing until the new year as a result of his left ankle injury suffered earlier this month," read a club statement.

"As announced yesterday, the 24-year-old England international will undergo arthroscopic surgery early next week to assess the full extent of the problem.

"He will be on crutches for six weeks."

Ashton's time with the Hammers has been blighted by a succession of injury problems since breaking his ankle while on international duty in August 2006.

The former Crewe striker, who cost £7.25million from Norwich in January 2006, missed the entire 2006-07 season and saw his last campaign also interrupted by further fitness problems.

Ashton signed a new five-year contract at Upton Park at the beginning of the summer, but has yet to make an appearance under new manager Zola.