Ashton eager to discuss his future with the Hammers

4:54pm Monday 12th May 2008

WEST Ham striker Dean Ashton has admitted that he is growing increasingly concerned about the club's failure to open discussions over his future.

The 24-year-old - who missed all of last season with a broken ankle and six weeks of this term with a knee injury - has returned to form with five goals in his last eight games.

That has seen him linked with an £8 million summer move to Premier League champions Manchester United. Portsmouth and Newcastle are also believed to be taking a keen interest.

But Ashton, who has two years left on his current contract at Upton Park, is disappointed that the Irons are yet to talk to him about securing his long-term future at the club.

"As far as I know I'll be here. I haven't heard anything myself and the only worry is that the club haven't spoken to me yet so I don't know where I stand with the club at the moment," he said.

"Obviously I'd like to speak to the club about my future.

"I'd just like to know where my future stands. I haven't really been told particularly where my future stands at the moment.

"Obviously I had to prove myself and I feel I've done that now.

"West Ham is the team I play for. I've got two years (left) here and I want to talk to the club because I've really enjoyed myself here and that's all I'm really thinking about."

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson lavished praise on Ashton after he scored a stunning goal in the Irons' 4-1 thumping at Old Trafford last week.

But the former Crewe and Norwich star was quick to maintain his desire to stay in east London.

He said: "I suppose it is (flattering) but you don't really read a lot about what goes into the papers.

"What I'm worried about is what West Ham think of me and whether they want to keep me.

"Obviously I want to speak to them because I'm happy here."

It was Ashton's superb 88th minute strike - his third goal in as many games - that earned the Irons a 2-2 with Aston Villa on Sunday and ensured the club retained tenth place in the table.

And that, the striker believes, was a fitting outcome to a tough season for both himself and a squad continually hit by injury.

"It was nice to finish the season like I have done after the season that I've had, which has been in-and-out really.

"So to finish the season starting a few games and scoring a few goals, I'm really pleased," said Ashton.

"There's a few players who've been injured and not played as many games as they wanted to who have ended the season well.

"Although we'd have liked to have done a lot better, a couple of us are pleased with the way we've ended the season.

"If you put everything into consideration, the table doesn't look too bad.

"If we'd had everyone fit it would have been a different story but that's the way it goes and we did the best we could."