Seems strange IF it isnt true, great shame if it is.
Dean Ashton's forced retirement rubs salt into Gianfranco Zola's wounds | Football
West Ham have reluctantly accepted the fact their England striker Dean Ashton will be forced to retire from the game through injury.
Ashton, who will be 26 later this month, last played a senior match 14 months ago and has never fully recovered from an ankle injury suffered while training with England in Manchester in August 2006.
The former Crewe and Norwich striker did return to action in 2007 and even won an England recall. West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola has steadfastly refused to write off Ashton but it is understood that the big striker has had to admit defeat because of chronic degeneration in the ankle.
Dean Ashton's forced retirement rubs salt into Gianfranco Zola's wounds | Football
West Ham have reluctantly accepted the fact their England striker Dean Ashton will be forced to retire from the game through injury.
Ashton, who will be 26 later this month, last played a senior match 14 months ago and has never fully recovered from an ankle injury suffered while training with England in Manchester in August 2006.
The former Crewe and Norwich striker did return to action in 2007 and even won an England recall. West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola has steadfastly refused to write off Ashton but it is understood that the big striker has had to admit defeat because of chronic degeneration in the ankle.
