ASHTON SET FOR CONTRACT TALKS

Ashton - will start contract talks on Friday.

West Ham striker Dean Ashton will meet club officials at the end of the week to start discussions over terms for a new contract at Upton Park.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his current deal and is thought to be on the radar of Manchester Untied, Portsmouth and Newcastle.

Hammers chief executive Scott Duxbury said: "The end of the season was the appropriate time to discuss such matters and to meet Dean Ashton and his representatives.

"We will sit down on Friday with a view to agreeing a new long-term contract to keep Dean Ashton at Upton Park."

Ashton, who was called into the England squad at the weekend, was signed from Norwich two years ago and is not among the club's high earners.

He missed last season after breaking an ankle on international duty when he was poised to earn a first cap. After battling his way back to fitness and form he could make his debut in the end-of-season friendlies against the USA or Trinidad & Tobago.

Despite a limited number of appearances this season he scored 11 goals, including three in his last three matches.

Hammers goalkeeper Robert Green feels Ashton is vital to the prospects of the club.

"He's massively important," Green said.

"He's come back and played, rather than being injured, and it is a massive ask because he is a young lad and had a difficult injury - one where it became apparent it wasn't when he was back, but if he was back.

"Now he's had a run of games and can show what he can do."

Green has backed Ashton to prove himself on the international stage as well.

"He's been called into the England squad and rightly so on the back of some tremendous performances towards the end of the season," he said.

"That's come after a run of games when he's been able to play and been able to get in the swing of it again. It's not easy going into the Premier League on the back of 18 months being out injured.

"He's a tremendous player and talent, maybe something is the size of him. Not in a bad sense, it's the pure aspect of his presence - he has something other people haven't got.

"In England we have quick, skilful forwards, guys who can go in behind. Beyond Peter Crouch, we haven't got that targetman of international class that he clearly is."

The Hammers are keen to trim their squad this summer but Ashton is one of the players boss Alan Curbishley wants to stay.

The club have also been linked with signings such as Nicky Shorey from Reading, who they have previously looked at, while Juventus youngster Davide Lanzafame has been suggested as a target in reports from Italy.