West Ham may have to call time on injury-plagued Dean Ashton

A year since Dean Ashton last kicked a football, West Ham are understood to be exploring the insurance implications of the former England striker being forced to retire from the game. Manager Gianfranco Zola, preparing to host Liverpool in the Premier League this afternoon, admitted yesterday that the 25- year-old has made no significant progress on his chronic ankle problem in the past 12 months and that Ashton spends most of his time in rehab away from the club's Chadwell Heath training ground. Cruel blow: Hammers boss Zola has waited in vain for Ashton to recover from an ankle injury The five-year, £60,000-a-week contract extension that West Ham offered Ashton in the summer of 2008 is now weighing heavily on the club's finances. Four Premier League appearances and two goals since that deal was signed have been a paltry payback on a £15million investment. The decision on whether to retire is down to the player, but it was clear from the sympathetic yet resigned tone of Zola's voice that he does not expect to see Ashton play for him in the foreseeable future, if at all.Zola said: 'What can I say about his situation? He's one of the playersI had a lot of hopes for when I arrived. I'm been working one year hereand I haven't had him. National service: Dean Ashton in action for England against Trinidad & Tobago'I'm sorry for the boy. I can imagine what he's going through, that he's suffering a lot. All my thoughts are with him and that he will find his way forward as soon as possible.'Since joining from Norwich for £7.25million in January 2006, Ashton has managed just 33 league starts for West Ham. His current injury began when his ankle was broken in an accidental challenge with Shaun Wright-Phillips in an England training session. That sidelined him for an entire season, but the residual problems eventually caused him to break down a year ago this week - coincidentally in Zola's first training session as West Ham manager. Zola added: 'He knows how I feel. We try with him but it is not easy. He's trying very hard, working very hard to make progress, but the problem he had was more serious than everyone thought. The ankle is a very delicate part of the body for a footballer because all the weight goes through there.   'When will he be back? You are asking me questions that I cannot answer, but it has been one year and obviously I am getting concerned about it. 'I can't say to him, "I'll give you three months". He knows I trust him and whatever he does I have been trying to help and will keep trying to help him.' Gianfranco Zola hopes Hammers anniversary is the first of manyWEST HAM v Liverpool: Ilunga in line for return to action against Liverpool  Explore more:People:Gianfranco Zola, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Dean AshtonPlaces:Norwich, Liverpool, United Kingdom

Source: Daily_Mail