Dean Ashton is set for another lengthy spell on the sidelines, with West Ham confirming that he will undergo surgery next week on his ankle injury.

Rumours of Ashton’s condition first cropped up on the forum of the popular, and rather excellent, West Ham fansite “Knees Up Mother Brown” on Tuesday. That site is estimating that Ashton could be out until 2009 with the injury, and this after Zola commented last week that he hoped the striker would be back in training this week.

The club has since confirmed today that Ashton “will undergo arthroscopic surgery to his left ankle next week to help assess the extent of his injury.”

Ashton’s prolonged absence is sure to promote Carlton Cole in the minds of fantasy managers. Cole is surely now assured of starts up front – with the likes of Bellamy, Di Michele and Sears seen potential partners to the ex-Chelsea striker.

Cole himself is currently struggling with a knock for the Fulham game, which could hand a first start of the season to Sears. Bellamy has a chance of making the game but the club have stressed that they feel the game will come too soon for the Welshman.