The Dutch surgeon who operated on Cristiano Ronaldo in the summer has been consulted by West Ham striker Dean Ashton. The England striker has been plagued by ankle problems since breaking the joint whilst training with England and he missed the entire season in 2006/07.

"I have had ankle problems in the past but I'm not sure if this is a flare-up of the old injury, even though it is the same ankle I broke in England training," he told his official website.

"I don't know if it was the recent sprain that exacerbated it either. It's not anything that can be explained to be honest.

"Basically there were pieces of bone floating around inside my ankle and they had to come out. Surgery was the only option.

"I saw James Calder, the ankle specialist here in England. I've also seen Van Dyke in Holland. He did the surgery on Cristiano Ronaldo's ankle over the summer. So I have been in good hands."