Ashton Explanation Required

Now regular visitors to this site will know that I am not the greatest fan of Primadeano Ashton - not because I don't rate him as a player, but because I think his attitude stinks. I passed comment last week on a remark from young Dixon, that he had trained through the summer but had not seen any of the other players, apart from Parker, as he put in his extra shifts. 'Where was Ashton?' I dared to ask.

Beano fans leapt to his defence of course. Perhaps he is so far along the road to recovery that he doesn't need the additional fitness training they argued. Fair enough, then we could expect to see Beano stripped and ready for action at Grays or, if that was beneath him, then certainly on the tour of Austria. Remember, Zola was of the opinion that Ashton could return before the end of last season!

Cometh the hour but no cometh the man! Deano was a no show at Grays and, it seems, is not ready for the pre-season tour of Austria either. So the guy who was too fit to need to train through the summer (having had almost the whole of last season off!)is not yet ready to turn out against part time professionals. Hmmmmmm, does anybody smell a rat here?

I'm beginning to suspect that the treatment table has moulded itself around Beano's body. Stoke's interest seems to have waned and no other clubs are being linked with him. At this rate, any return of Beano will be on a par with the resurrection of Jesus Christ!