West Ham United striker Dean Ashton faces being out until April.

The Telegraph says Ashton underwent arthroscopic surgery yesterday after suffering the injury in training and will be on crutches for the next six weeks. Initial thoughts were that the problem was not serious and he hoped to be available after the forthcoming international break.

However, after West Ham last week confirmed Ashton would not return until next year, reports suggest it could be at least six months before the one-time England international is fully fit and ready for a first-team return.