Dean ashton's future uncertain as west ham season ends

By Simon Hayes on May 15, 2008 8:59 AM |

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WEST HAM’S Premier League campaign closed with an entertaining 2-2 draw last Sunday but already the rumours surrounding the squad have started.

Alan Curbishley’s men sealed 10th spot with Sunday’s point against Aston Villa, thanks to a superb 88th minute strike from Dean Ashton.

But the 24-year-old’s future at the club is in doubt. He wants to stay but talks about extending his contract, which has two years to run, have yet to happen.

An England recall for the games with the USA and Trinidad and Tobago won’t harm his bargaining position and team-mate Robert Green thinks Ashton deserves a long-overdue first cap.

He said: “He’s a quality player. Anyone who saw the game on Sunday could see what he can do. He’s been rightly called into the squad on the back of some tremendous performances.

“He’s a tremendous player and a tremendous talent and, maybe, with his physical presence he’s got something other people haven’t got. We’ve got quick forwards and skilful forwards but we haven’t really got beyond Crouch as that target man of international class.”

Green himself missed out on England selection but was philosophical about it.

He said: “It’s testament to the fact we’ve got a number of good keepers now that people like myself, Scott Carson and Paul Robinson – who a while ago were the three keepers in the squad – aren’t in the squad now. I’ve never had any critical feedback, good or bad, to say what I need to do, so I’ll carry on playing and do all I can do.”

Ashton will hope there’s no repeat of the broken ankle he sustained when he was called up by Steve McClaren in 2006. And injuries have been the theme of West Ham’s season with Curbishley hinting he would wait for stars like Craig Bellamy and Kieran Dyer to return before assessing his needs for next year, although he denied he was under pressure to trim his squad.

He said: “I’ve got to get return dates on some players. We’re talking about players like [Matthew] Upson who’s played for England recently but he’s been out for six or seven weeks. If I can get some of these players back who’ve been injured, it will be like new signings. To get them back is a plus point and then I can consider where I’ve got to go.”

The size of the squad has helped the Hammers avoid being dragged into the relegation mire, as Rob Green acknowledged.

“We’ve got a huge squad but it’s been needed with the amount of injuries,” he said. “Some games we’ve turned up with 16 players and three of them aren’t fit, but they are named on the bench or some are starting. That’s the size of the troubles we’ve had. If we hadn’t had that squad we could have been in all sorts of problems.”

So, not a vintage season for the Irons, but after the rollercoaster ride of 2006-07 a mid-table finish this time round does at least give them a solid platform to build on for next season – injuries permitting.

simon.hayes@wharf.co.uk