Ashton the Cripple

I'm not sure of the political correctness of the word 'cripple', but I am pretty sure that if any player could justify the tag it would be Dean Ashton. On-Football tipped Ashton at 40/1 to be the Premier League Top Goalscorer this season, and after 10 mins Ashton had set Upton Park alight with two quickfire goals. With England Manager Fabio Capello sitting in the stands, Ashton was doing exactly what he needed to prove his worth to the Qualifying Campaign, and to fill that striking role along side Wayne Rooney. However... it again wasn't to be.

Only Ashton (who has hamstrings as weak as elastic bands) could injure himself striking a free-kick at goal, a free-kick that flew over the crossbar by twenty or thirty feet. This is the third time Ashton has had to pull out of the England Squad. The picture I have sourced was from the previous time he had to pull out, and then there was the infamous ankle injury whilst training that put him out of most of the season this time two years ago.

Dean Ashton is destined not to become an England regular, but surely in this time of scientific discovery, there is a way of protecting Mr. Glass from his injury proneness.

This leaves Jermain Defoe, Emile Heskey, Wayne Rooney and Theo Walcott as the attacking options in the England Squad. It doesn't exactly inspire confidence does it?