Dean Ashton is looking forward to returning to training and then hopefully
featuring at Manchester City.
18.08.2008
Dean Ashton is targeting a potential return to action for West Ham United
this Sunday against Manchester City after the results of a scan came back
clear.
The striker was substituted with 73 minutes to go in Saturday's 2-1 home win
against Wigan Athletic with what felt like severe cramp. A scan on Sunday
found no problems and the 24-year-old reported no ill-effects when examined
again on Monday. He will continue to be monitored but is hopeful of being
back in action this coming weekend with the televised trip to the City of
Manchester Stadium.
"It was just cramp," Ashton said. "I should be training with the team on
Tuesday. I am really glad that is not a bad injury. I am looking forward to
joining in training tomorrow and getting on with playing. Overall, I am
really pleased with how pre-season has gone for me and then to get off to a
good start in the first game - especially with two goals. Hopefully I can
keep that going on Sunday."
Ashton scored six goals during pre-season to continue where he left off last
season. Overall, the weekend double means he has struck seven goals in his
last nine Barclays Premier League outings - including the last eight games
of the 2007/08 campaign.
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Fillip for Ashton - KUMB
Filed: Monday, 18th August 2008
By: Staff Writer
Dean Ashton could be back in the United starting line-up at Manchester City
next weekend after a scan on his calf showed no damage. The Hammers striker
pulled up immediately after taking a free-kick against Wigan on Saturday and
was substituted soon afterwards. Fortunately for the England international,
tests on Sunday diagnosed nothing more than cramp. Talking to whufc.com this
afternoon, Ashton revealed that he hopes to begin training again tomorrow
with view to making West Ham's first away game of the season next Sunday.
"I'm really glad that it's not a bad injury," he said. "I am looking forward
to joining in training and getting on with playing. "Overall, I am really
pleased with how pre-season has gone for me and a good start in the first
game. Hopefully I can keep that going on Sunday."
Despite receiving the good news Ashton will not be joining up with the
England squad as they prepare to face the Czech Republic at Wembley on
Wednesday evening.
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Distraught Ashton could have played for England after injury proves to be a
false alarm - Daily Mail
By Matt Barlow
Last updated at 12:10 AM on 19th August 2008
Dean Ashton trained normally for West Ham yesterday after a scan proved he
did not suffer a calf injury against Wigan and could have joined up with the
England squad. Ashton is understood to be bitterly disappointed after being
omitted from Fabio Capello's squad to face the Czech Republic, his final
chance to impress the England manager at close quarters before next month's
World Cup qualifiers. Taking no risks: Alan Curbishley looks concerned as
Dean Ashton is treated for a calf injury - but the striker was only
suffering from cramp. The Hammers striker scored twice before hobbling off
in the closing minutes of Saturday's 2-1 win at Upton Park, a game watched
by Capello. Ashton insisted after the match that it was only cramp and
expected to be fit for international duty if selected but the England boss
spoke personally to the Italian connection within West Ham's medical
department, who claimed the injury might be more serious and there was no
point taking any risk.
An FA spokesman confirmed Ashton had been left out because of injury. But
when he woke on Sunday Ashton felt no pain or stiffness in his calf. He
agreed to undergo a scan which proved there was no damage to the tissue. He
was able to train fully with West Ham yesterday when he could have been with
working with Capello's squad and looking forward to winning his second cap
for his country. It seems Ashton, 24, has been the victim of his own poor
fitness record, with his club determined to err on the side of caution after
losing Kieron Dyer, Craig Bellamy and Anton Ferdinand to injuries before the
season even kicked off. West Ham's new Italian technical director Gianluca
Nani has revamped the club's medical department during the summer in a bid
to halt the catalogue of injuries which have stretched Alan Curbishley's
squad to its limits.
Nikos Tzouroudis, a Greek who worked in Italy with Fiorentina and Verona,
has been brought in as chief medical officer, along with two Italians,
osteopath Mario Cesarini and rehabilitation physio Giorgio Gasparini.
Meanwhile, new Czech Republic coach Petr Rada, like Capello, needs to stamp
his mark quickly after the country failed to qualify for Euro 2008 and is
set to hand a debut to Michal Papadopulos, who spent a brief spell on loan
at Arsenal four years ago.
The 23-year-old is likely to partner ex-Aston Villa striker Milan Baros up
front in the absence of veteran Jan Koller who has chosen not to make the
12-hour flight from his new Russian club Krylya Sovetov. Rada will rely
heavily on Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech, who said: 'It's an important match
for us because the fact we are playing a British team will help us prepare
for the World Cup qualifier against Northern Ireland.'
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West Ham accept Ferdinand bid
Louise Taylor The Guardian, Tuesday August 19 2008
West Ham United yesterday confirmed they have accepted an £8m bid from
Sunderland for Anton Ferdinand but Roy Keane knows that persuading the
central defender to move to Wearside may prove difficult.
Earlier this summer Newcastle were told West Ham would sell them the
23-year-old, who has declined an offer to extend his current contract at
Upton Park. However, that green light was swiftly followed by an emphatic
refusal on the part of Ferdinand to even consider relocating to Tyneside.
At that time, though, Aston Villa remained interested in him and, with
Martin O'Neill having since looked elsewhere, Ferdinand's options are
narrowing and he could be effectively forced to listen to what Keane has to
say.
Sunderland's manager - who is able to offer transfer targets extremely
lucrative salaries - has turned his attentions to Ferdinand after Sir Alex
Ferguson's refusal to sell or loan him Jonny Evans from Manchester United
and Younes Kaboul's decision to leave Tottenham Hotspur for Portsmouth
rather than Wearside.
Keane also remains in the hunt for a left-back and a centre-forward. On
Friday, he had a £9m bid for the striker Benni McCarthy turned down by
Blackburn Rovers but may return with an improved offer.
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Socceroos' trip into unknown - news.com.au
By Cameron Tomarchio
August 19, 2008 12:00am
SOCCEROOS old hands Lucas Neill and Mark Schwarzer agree next month's trip
to Uzbekistan could be the most difficult World Cup qualifier of the entire
campaign. Pim Verbeek's men take on the "unknown quantity" in Tashkent on
September 10 as the road to South Africa 2010 steps up another notch.
"It's important that we get together now to prepare for what will possibly
be our toughest qualifier for the World Cup because we go into the unknown
against Uzbekistan," Neill said from London, where the Socceroos were
preparing for tomorrow's friendly against South Africa at Loftus Road.
"We're going into an environment that we're not used to and they had an
extremely good qualifying round previously, so it's going to be tough."
Neill said the key to overcoming Uzbekistan was adaptability, which he
believed was a core strength of the current Socceroos outfit. "Ever since
Guus (Hiddink) came in and completely changed our formations and got us
thinking about different styles we've learned to adapt to anything," the
Socceroos and West Ham captain said. "And the Uzbeks have got us thinking.
We're going to have to work on our system and our system only and make sure
that we can adapt in the first five minutes to whatever gets thrown at us."
Australia will also take on Euro 2008 quarter-finalists the Netherlands in
Eindhoven on September 6 in preparation for the Uzbeks. Schwarzer said
while good results in the lead-up would provide a welcome boost in
confidence and morale, winning was not the priority. "The next few games
aren't about winning necessarily, it's about a good performance and
preparing for Uzbekistan, which inevitably is the most important game," the
35-year-old Fulham goalkeeper said, before echoing the view of his skipper.
"I think definitely the Uzbeks are an unknown quantity," he said. "We saw a
little bit of them at the Asian Cup last year - they looked a pretty good
side. "They're going to be a very, very difficult game for us away. That's
why these two friendly games are important because we can get together as a
squad and get some game time under our belts."
Australia's qualifying group also contains Japan, Bahrain and Qatar, while
the second group is made of North and South Korea, Iran, Saudi Arabia and
the United Arab Emirates. The top two teams from each group qualify for the
World Cup, while the third-placed teams will play a home and away play-off
with the winner advancing to the inter-confederation play-off with the top
team from Oceania.
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Dean Ashton given all-clear by West Ham - Telegraph
West Ham striker Dean Ashton has been passed fit, despite limping out of
Saturday's Premier League defeat of Wigan.
By Richard Bright
Last Updated: 12:21AM BST 19 Aug 2008
Ashton scored twice in the first 10 minutes but left the action in the 72nd
minute with what was feared to be a calf injury. However, a scan allayed
those concerns and, although the 24-year-old will continue to be monitored
this week, he is hopeful of figuring in Sunday's match at Manchester City.
Ashton said: "It was just cramp. I should be training with the team
tomorrow. "I am really glad that it is not a bad injury. I am looking
forward to training tomorrow and getting on with playing. "Overall, I am
really pleased with how pre-season has gone for me and then to get off to a
good start in the first game – especially with two goals. Hopefully I can
keep that going on Sunday."
Ashton's double at Upton Park on Saturday means he has struck seven goals in
his past nine Premier League outings. As a result of the injury concerns,
the former Norwich front man was not considered for England's friendly
against the Czech Republic.
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West Ham's Ashton: It was just cramp!
tribalfooball.com - August 18, 2008
West Ham striker Dean Ashton has been given the all-clear after limping out
of Saturday's victory over Wigan. Ashton scored twice in the first 10
minutes but left the action in the 72nd minute with what was feared to be a
calf injury. However, the results of a scan have allayed those concerns and,
although the 24-year-old will continue to be monitored this week, he is
hopeful of figuring in Sunday's match at Manchester City. He told his club's
official website: "It was just cramp. I should be training with the team
tomorrow. "I am really glad that is not a bad injury. I am looking forward
to joining in training tomorrow and getting on with playing. "Overall, I am
really pleased with how pre-season has gone for me and then to get off to a
good start in the first game - especially with two goals. Hopefully I can
keep that going on Sunday."
Ashton's double in the Upton Park clash means he has struck seven goals in
his last nine Premier League outings.
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West Ham's Ashton angry over England axe
tribalfootball.com - August 18, 2008
West Ham striker Dean Ashton is angry after being omitted from the England
squad this week. The Daily Mail says Ashton trained normally for West Ham
yesterday after a scan proved he did not suffer a calf injury against Wigan
and could have joined up with the England squad. Ashton is understood to be
bitterly disappointed after being omitted from Fabio Capello's squad to face
the Czech Republic, his final chance to impress the England manager at close
quarters before next month's World Cup qualifiers. The Hammers striker
scored twice before hobbling off in the closing minutes of Saturday's 2-1
win at Upton Park, a game watched by Capello. Ashton insisted after the
match that it was only cramp and expected to be fit for international duty
if selected but the England boss spoke personally to the Italian connection
within West Ham's medical department, who claimed the injury might be more
serious and there was no point taking any risk.
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West Ham United star to decide on £8million exit - FansFC
06:27 August, 19, 2008
Anton Ferdinand will decide if he signs for Sunderland Football Club or
stays at Upton Park. The Black Cats have had an offer accepted for the West
Ham United player, with reports suggesting Roy Keane's side tabled an offer
of £8million. Alan Curbishley is prepared to let the central defender leave
the Hammers, although he has told the England Under-21 international the
decision is down to him. Ferdinand must now decide whether to stay with the
club he made his name at, or head to the Stadium of Light and join Keane's
revolution on Wearside.
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Hammers striker on course for speedy recovery - Guardian Series
4:16pm Monday 18th August 2008
DEAN ASHTON has handed West Ham a boost by declaring himself available for
Sunday's clash with Manchester City. The striker helped himself to two
early goals in Saturday's 2-1 win over Wigan, only to limp out of the action
in the 73rd minute. The 24-year-old complained of serious cramp and he was
subsequently left out of Fabio Capello's England squad for the friendly with
Czech Republic at Wembley on Wednesday. However, scans have revealed that
there is lasting problem and Ashton - who has been in red hot goalscoring
form during pre-season - is eager to return to training with the Irons in
preparation for the trip to Eastlands. "It was just cramp. I should be
training with the team on Tuesday," Ashton told the club's official website.
"I am really glad that it is not a bad injury. I am looking forward to
joining in training tomorrow and getting on with playing. "Overall, I am
really pleased with how pre-season has gone for me and then to get off to a
good start in the first game - especially with two goals. "Hopefully I can
keep that going on Sunday."
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Givet frustrated with Marseilles By Steve Turner - FansOnline.net
Posted on Monday 18 Aug 2008 16:02:00
Gael Givet is getting frustrated with the lack of movement from Olympique
Marseilles over his protracted transfer from the club. Interest from
Panathinaikos has been firmed up, and it is well-documented the Hammers are
keeping a watchful eye over the defender. Speaking to the French La
Provence, Givet said: "They say everything on my account. Do not count on me
to feed what is being said." Givet still hasn't played any official games
for OM this season, so it seems pretty clear he'll be moving on to pastures
new sooner rather than later. However, it's still unclear whether the
Hammers can offer him the money and challenge the Greek UEFA Cup team
Panathinaikos can.
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