West Ham got the news they were dreading today when they learned that Dean Ashton would be absent for at least six weeks with the knee injury suffered at Villa at the weekend. Ashton had a scan today which confirmed he had sprained medial knee ligaments. According to the Hammers physio, George Cooper (I’m all for raising the profile of backroom staff), Ashton won’t be expected back until the end of November at least.
‘In the majority of cases it will take up to six weeks for full recovery’. Remarked the magic sponge merchant.
That bitter pill was somewhat sweetened by the news that Craig Bellamy has been passed fit to turn out for Wales in their two forthcoming games against Cyprus and San Marino. With Zamora still out and Carlton Cole and Henri Camara struggling for form, Curbishley will be sweating on Bellamy getting through those games to face Sunderland on October 21st. Cole is likely to lineup alongside him should he emerge unscathed but doesn’t appear to offer value to Fantasy Managers despite his modest price tag.