Dean Ashton has been ruled out of action for up to six weeks after scans confirmed the striker has a sprained medial knee ligament.
The West Ham United forward was yesterday forced to withdraw from the England squad to face Estonia and Russia in Euro 2008 qualifiers on Saturday and Wednesday week respectively after being hurt late in Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa. Ashton had been called up after a series of fine performances for the club had seen him score three goals in eight appearances.
Head physiotherapist George Cooper confirmed the extent of Ashton's injury today. "We received the results of Dean's scan and they were what we expected which is that he had sprained the upper third of his medial ligament," he said. "In the majority of cases it will take up to six weeks for full recovery." The injury is a bitter blow for the 23-year-old whose previous call into the England squad for an August 2006 friendly against Greece saw him pick up an ankle injury in training.
More positive news for West Ham is that striker Craig Bellamy began running again last Friday after an operation on a groin injury and is to join up with the Wales squad ahead of their own qualifiers against Cyprus and San Marino, although he is set to sit out the first fixture. Club-mates Danny Gabbidon and James Collins are also in John Toshack's selection.
The West Ham United forward was yesterday forced to withdraw from the England squad to face Estonia and Russia in Euro 2008 qualifiers on Saturday and Wednesday week respectively after being hurt late in Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa. Ashton had been called up after a series of fine performances for the club had seen him score three goals in eight appearances.
Head physiotherapist George Cooper confirmed the extent of Ashton's injury today. "We received the results of Dean's scan and they were what we expected which is that he had sprained the upper third of his medial ligament," he said. "In the majority of cases it will take up to six weeks for full recovery." The injury is a bitter blow for the 23-year-old whose previous call into the England squad for an August 2006 friendly against Greece saw him pick up an ankle injury in training.
More positive news for West Ham is that striker Craig Bellamy began running again last Friday after an operation on a groin injury and is to join up with the Wales squad ahead of their own qualifiers against Cyprus and San Marino, although he is set to sit out the first fixture. Club-mates Danny Gabbidon and James Collins are also in John Toshack's selection.