Dean Ashton has admitted his disappointment at his England 'injury nightmare'.
Striker stunned by knee blow
Dean Ashton has admitted his disappointment at his England 'injury nightmare'.
The West Ham striker sustained suspected medial knee ligament damage in The Hammers' 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa on Saturday and is a doubt for England's forthcoming Euro 2008 qualifiers.
Ashton underwent scans to diagnose the extent of the injury on Sunday and will find out the results on Monday.
If the scans confirm the damage Ashton will join Everton forward Andy Johnson, who undergoes ankle surgery on Monday, on the sidelines for England's qualifiers with Estonia and Russia on 13th and 17th October respectively.
Injury
It could be the second time in 14 months Ashton has been ruled out of an England squad through injury.
The 23-year-old broke his ankle during England training having received his first call up to manager Steve McClaren's squad for the friendly with Greece in August 2006 and missed all of last season as a result.
Ashton, who was called up to the squad in place of the injured Emile Heskey, has admitted his despair at the prospect of missing out again.
"It's like a nightmare," Ashton told the Daily Mirror. "I've tweaked something in my knee but it feels okay walking so hopefully it won't be too bad.
Frustration
"I've got to see what the scan reveals but if I have to miss out on England I'll be devastated. It almost seems like there is something against me and it is frustrating.
"If the worst comes to the worst and I can't be involved with England I'll be devastated because it feels like it is my chance again in the squad to show what I'm about.
"I'll be gutted because of all the hard work I've put in to get to this stage.
"If I am out of the qualifiers because my knee, I'll make sure I come back from that as well."
