West Ham United striker Dean Ashton is unlikely to return to
action until well into the New Year, as he struggles to recover
from a broken ankle.
The 23-year-old has not featured this season after being injured
while training with the England national team and new Hammers boss
Alan Curbishley admits that his star man is some way off a
return.
He told the Evening Standard: "I'm told that Dean will not begin
serious training until the end of January or even early
February."
Meanwhile, Curbishley has challenged Carlos Tevez to prove that he
deserves a starting spot, having been left on the bench for the 1-0
home win over Manchester United.
He added: "He understood and I've said to him that the players who
didn't play will have to show me something in training, because I
need to see them perform.
"With the Christmas period they are going to have to show me in
training, or when they get their chance, because there are no
reserve games."