Sonatine 11542 Posted August 23, 2009 Share Posted August 23, 2009 ASHTON TO RETIRE - REPORTPosted 23/08/09 09:37 Dean Ashton is reportedly set to announce his retirement from football. The West Ham striker is suffering from a degenerative ankle problem and has been told - according to the Sunday Mirror - that he will end up in a wheelchair if he continues to play football. A Hammers official did not deny the story when questioned by the newspaper, saying: "We can confirm Dean Ashton is unavailable for selection but we cannot comment any further." Ashton suffered a fracture of his ankle three years ago while training with England but returned to play 35 games in 2007/08. But he broke down again in September of last year and has failed to play since. The Sunday Mirror claims that the one-time England striker is suffering excruciating pain in his ankle and Dutch doctor Niek van Dijk has told him that surgery is possible but it will end his playing career. Ouch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewerk 31202 Posted August 23, 2009 Share Posted August 23, 2009 Sad for any footballer of that age. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitman 2207 Posted August 23, 2009 Share Posted August 23, 2009 Shame. Kieron Dyer will have no-one to keep him company in the treatment room now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inglez 0 Posted August 23, 2009 Share Posted August 23, 2009 Only 25 aswell, sad news. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Kenneth Noisewater 0 Posted August 23, 2009 Share Posted August 23, 2009 Good player. I'd have liked us to have taken him from Norwich when Shearer was winding down. Best wishes for your future, whatever it holds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holden McGroin 6783 Posted August 23, 2009 Share Posted August 23, 2009 I bet he wished he never got called up for England now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewerk 31202 Posted August 23, 2009 Share Posted August 23, 2009 I had an arguement with alex a couple of years ago that he wasn't injury prone, I think I'll concede that one now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom 14013 Posted August 23, 2009 Share Posted August 23, 2009 Good luck for the future fella! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acid 0 Posted August 23, 2009 Share Posted August 23, 2009 Unfortunate, but these things seem common in football. Best Wishes for the future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chaser 1255 Posted August 23, 2009 Share Posted August 23, 2009 I wouldnt be surprised if Ledley King went a similar way. Wonder what he'll pursue instead Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ayatollah Hermione 14053 Posted August 23, 2009 Share Posted August 23, 2009 I assume tomorrow's announcement is that we've signed him on a three year deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew 4857 Posted August 23, 2009 Share Posted August 23, 2009 shame really, looked like he could have been a good england striker if he kept fit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sonatine 11542 Posted December 11, 2009 Author Share Posted December 11, 2009 West Ham striker Dean Ashton retires because of injury West Ham's former England striker Dean Ashton has announced his retirement at the age of 26 after failing to recover from a long-term ankle injury. Ashton broke his left ankle while training with England in August 2006, ahead of a friendly with Greece. He underwent several operations but was unable to return to full fitness and has followed medical advice to retire. West Ham chief executive Scott Duxbury told the club's website: "This is a sad day and our thoughts are with Dean." Ashton scored 19 goals in 56 appearances for the Hammers after joining them from Norwich in a £7.25m move in January 2006. The former Crewe striker earned an England call-up for the friendly with Greece in August 2006, but he broke his ankle in training for that game and missed the whole of the 2006-07 season. He returned to play 35 games in 2007-08 and made his England debut under Fabio Capello in May 2008 when he faced Trinidad & Tobago. Ashton signed a new five-year contract at Upton Park that summer but sprained his ankle in training September 2008 and did not play competitively again. He made several attempts to return but concerns that continuing his career would affect his mobility later in life led him to decide to end his playing career. Duxbury added: "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." A real shame for the lad, looked a real prospect too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney 0 Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckyluke 2 Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 Unfortunate, was a good old fashioned centre forward. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giraffidae 0 Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 would of been an England regular by now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Kenneth Noisewater 0 Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 Real shame, but I don't see any point in suing Wright-Phillips. He's not a malicious player and certainly wouldn't be out to end someones career. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckyluke 2 Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 I think Wright-Phillips just made a bad tackle. It's not his fault that Ashton's made of balsa wood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tooj 17 Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 "I played and was reasonably pleased even though I didn't score. I thought this is the first of many squads. At the start of last season, I was playing well but I had totally adapted to the situation. "I couldn't jump off my left leg so had to adjust and start to do it with my right. As a result, I could not jump as well. "I couldn't shoot with my left foot as well, so I had to change the way I hit the ball so everything was a curl rather than a clean strike. People probably didn't notice as I was playing OK. Fucking hell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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