West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola has dismissed speculation that Dean Ashton is set to quit the game due to his continued injury problems but admits 'concerned' with the situation.

The 25-year-old has been sidelined for over 12 months due to an ankle injury and shows no sign of making a return to the Hammers first-team any time soon.

Former Crewe and Norwich ace Ashton initially broke his left ankle in 2006 before suffering a problem in the same area and is still training on his own with personal coach John Green away from Zola's squad.

There have been rumours recently suggesting the hitman was considering early retirement, but Zola has denied such conjecture and insists he will do everything he can to help the player return to action.

"We have not discussed that at all and anyway he knows I trust him and whatever he does I have been trying to help and will keep trying to help him," said the Italian tactician.

However, Zola, who recently celebrated one year in the Upton Park hot-seat, concedes that he is worried about Ashton's continued absence.

"The problem he had was quite serious, it was more serious than anybody thought," he said. "It has been one year and obviously I am getting concerned about it."

Ashton joined West Ham in January 2006 for a fee of £7.25million from Norwich and in that time has made just 46 league appearances, scoring 15 goals.