CURBISHLEY KNOWS VALUE OF ASHTON

Two-goal Ashton celebrates.

West Ham manager Alan Curbishley hopes Dean Ashton's injury after his two-goal match-winning performance against Wigan turns out to be only cramp.

Ashton is hoping to figure for England in Wednesday's international against the Czech Republic at Wembley.

He netted twice in the first 10 minutes but the Hammers were lucky to hang on for a 2-1 win - Egyptian debut-maker Amr Zaki netting for the Latics early in the second half.

Ashton went off in the 73rd minute after appearing to strain a hamstring taking a free-kick.

Curbishley said: "Obviously Dean's got to be picked for England yet - but if he is and he's pain-free in the morning he will be available to play.

"We've just got to hope it's only cramp. With Craig Bellamy and Kieron Dyer still out it's the last thing we need from our point of view - to see Deano out as well."

England manager Fabio Capello was at Upton Park to see Ashton crash home a superb opening goal in just four minutes and an opportunist tap-in from a Julien Faubert corner six minutes later.

The Italian gave Ashton his first England cap against Trinidad and Tobago at the end of last season after the former Crewe and Norwich striker's comeback from breaking an ankle a year earlier, while training with Steve McClaren's England squad.

Curbishley continued: "He has done ever so well and is in a real run of goals, scoring six in five pre-season friendlies after his late burst last season.

"He's leaner, too. He's worked hard and has been on a different diet. It would be a real shame if he's got another injury now but I think he'll be all right."

Ashton's goals were the difference between the two sides in the end but Wigan went within a whisker of turning the game on its head.

Wilson Palacios, the Honduran midfielder Steve Bruce signed for former club Birmingham, and subsequently Wigan on the advice of Arsenal chief Arsene Wenger, ran the show after the first dramatic 15 minutes.

Bruce said: "Frustration is an understatement. We were terrible for 15 minutes but everything we did after that was a delight.

"Arguably we should have got something out of it. Palacios was superb, the kid has got everything you want in a footballer and if he keeps playing like this he'll be a fantastic one.

"It was Arsene who recommended him. I was trying to sign Mathieu Flamini for Birmingham at the time and couldn't get him but Wenger said 'I've got this lad from Honduras on trial and he's worth a look'.

"He came to Birmingham, did well, and I signed him again for Wigan in January.

"He's been great and it would take a lot of money to prise him off us now. Luckily there are only two weeks to go to the transfer deadline."

Wigan, outclassed in the first half even though West Ham striker Carlton Cole had to clear from the line, would have taken at least a point had Zaki buried two late opportunities.

But the Egyptian striker headed wide and then shot over having put his team back in the match with a volley from Emile Heskey's headed pass in the 47th minute.

Zaki is on loan for the season after scoring 22 goal in 54 games for Cairo side El Zamalek - and 27 in 48 Egypt internationals.

Bruce continued: "He was just like the player I saw when I went over to Egypt, hustling and bustling around.

"I wondered whether he could reproduce that in the Premier League and it looks like he can.

"If he keeps his feet on the ground and adds a little bit of composure to his game then he'll do really well for us.

"But we're frustrated today because of those first 15 minutes when we were dreadful.

"There was no way we could have expected to come back and win here after giving them two goals so dearly but we nearly did."

Curbishley added: "We'll take the win. I thought we were very good in the first half and should have had more goals but their midfield overran us in the second.

"We let things slip but at least our defending was very good and we've still got players to come back."