LONDON (AP) West Ham striker Dean Ashton has been forced to retire at the age of 26 after his ankle failed to fully recover from an injury sustained during an England training session.

Ashton missed the whole of the 2006-07 season, but recovered to make 31 appearances in the following campaign.

He broke down again in September 2008 and has not played since due to concerns about his long-term mobility.

The initial injury was suffered in August 2006 in a challenge by Manchester City winger Shaun Wright-Phillips — a day before he was to make his England debut.