WEST HAM striker Dean Ashton has been forced to retire from the game through injury at the age of 26.
The frontman has been plagued by an ankle injury, picked up during training with the England squad, in August 2006 and, after seeking independent medical advice, has been advised to retire from professional football.
Ashton has undergone several surgical procedures and undertaken an intense rehabilitation programme in an effort to correct the problem, but they have proved unsuccessful, and with warnings about his future mobility, has been forced to give up.
West Ham CEO Scott Duxbury told the club's official website: “This is a sad day and our thoughts are with Dean. 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.”
Ashton joined West Ham from Norwich City for a then club record fee of £7.75m after climbing through the ranks at Crewe Alexandra.
He was called up to Steve McLaren's England squad for the friendly against Greece at Old Trafford in August 2006, but he suffered a badly broken ankle in training and has been out of the game ever since.
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