Ashton on the mend

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Dean Ashton has told skysports.com that he is making excellent progress from the medial ligament injury that has forced him to the sidelines.

The West Ham striker has endured ill-luck with injuries over the past year, with this latest blow coming on the back of a broken ankle that prevented from making his international bow against Greece - the game which marked Steve McClaren's debut at the helm.

Having made an impressive return to West Ham's first team this season, Ashton won his way back into McClaren's squad before being denied the chance to figure against Estonia and Russia due to an injury picked up in early October against Aston Villa.

But rather than be downbeat about his current predicament, the classy front-man is remaining philosophical about such ill-fortune as he plots his return.

"It's going really well, I've started training this week but obviously this weekend's game (at Derby) will come to soon," he told skysports.com.

"I can't deny it's been very frustrating but I haven't taken it too badly.

"I'm not a bad spectator so have been getting to the games to watch the lads.

"I try to take the positives, last time I had an awful lot of time on my hands to think about my overall game.

"This time it's only been five weeks, so it's just a case of topping up my fitness from the strength I built up in coming back from the ankle injury.

"I was feeling really fresh then so it's just a case of sharpening up.

"I'll be able to use the international break to get in a couple of reserve team games and hopefully that will stand me in good stead.

"I'm looking at the Tottenham game (on the 25th October) for my return and I'm confident I'll be ready for then."

While injury has restricted Ashton to just six starts this season, which have yielded three goals, in his enforced absence his Hammers team-mates have guided the club to 11th in the table.

Ashton has not been short of company in a congested Upton Park treatment room and with this in mind, when coupled with a period of substantial change in East London, he feels Alan Curbishley and the players have done a decent job thus far.

"I think we've done quite well overall. It's not easy with so much change - we've obviously brought in a lot of new players and personnel.

"It takes time for everything to gel and I think that's the case here but given that and the injuries we've had, I think we've done well."

Given a lavish campaign of spending since an Icelandic consortium took over the club last season, expectations are sky high in the capital.

Curbishley has been backed unequivocally in the transfer market and while Ashton accepts there is a need for instant results, he has also called for patience.

"Obviously with the investment that has been made there is a call for instant results.

"Everyone in the Premier League is desperate to stay in there because of the financial implications.

"We've spent a lot of money and the long-term aim is definitely getting into Europe, be that via our league position or perhaps by winning a cup.

"That's an avenue a club like ours is desperate to do well in. We treat the cup games as importantly as any league game and as a player; it's always something I'd love to win.

"With regards the league, I think if we can finish in the top ten then that will be a success.

"I honestly believe that is achievable and then we can kick-on from there."

Ashton was speaking to skysports.com courtesy of FIFA 08, which now includes a 'Be a Pro' mode, that allows a player to take control of the movement of just one player within the game.

Dean Ashton appears in FIFA 08, out now on all formats