Former West Ham striker Dean Ashton has told Sky Sports News he has no regrets about his career, despite enforced retirement. The 26-year-old was forced to hang up his boots after failing to overcome an ankle injury.

He finally called time on his career, which saw him play just under 250 league games for Crewe, Norwich and West Ham, in December last year.

"There is no point in me moping around and feeling sorry for myself, thinking how good I could have been," Ashton told Sky Sports News.

"I just have to think what a fantastic career I did have and how privileged I was and all the things I could do from now on."

Ashton admits he knew soon after his injury first occurred that his career was under threat.

"I did all the hard work after the operation and I was just jogging when I heard a crunch and I kind of knew playing was not going to happen," he said.