LONDON – West Ham United striker Dean Ashton announced his retirement from football at the age of 26 on Friday because of an ankle injury he sustained on England duty three years ago.

Ashton has undergone several operations since picking up the injury in an England training session.

“This is a sad day and our thoughts are with Dean,” chief executive Scott Duxbury told West Ham’s website.

“I would like to place on record our thanks to him for all his efforts and wish him the very best. I would also like to thank the fans for their patience and understanding during what has been a difficult time.”

Ashton joined West Ham for 7.25 million pounds from Norwich City in January 2006 and made one appearance for England.

The 27-year-old was injured in the he first half of Tuesday’s 2-2 Champions League draw with Cypriot side APOEL Nicosiam and will be out until next year.

The Ghana international was due to meet up with Black Stars for the African Cup of Nations, which runs from January 10 to January 31, in the new year and his participation has now been called into question.

Essien missed most of last season after rupturing knee ligaments but has been a key member of Carlo Ancelotti’s Premier League leaders this term.

United ended yesterday’s 4-0 Premier League win over West Ham with Michael Carrick and Patrice Evra at centre-back and Ryan Giggs at full-back after Gary Neville and Wes Brown added to an already-lengthy injury list.

Evra and young Belgian Ritchie De Laet are United’s only two fit defenders, with reserve player Corry Evans -brother of centre-back Jonny – likely to be called into the squad for Tueday’s Champions League clash with Wolfsburg.

Both Neville and Brazilian Fabio are suffering from groin problems, Jonny Evans and Rio Ferdinand have calf injuries, John O’Shea is out with thigh trouble, while Edwin van der Sar, Rafael and Brown are all missing too.

Young centre-back James Chester, winner of the club’s Reserve Player of the Year Award last season, was included in United’s Champions League squad, but is currently on-loan at Championship side Plymouth Argyle, while fellow defensive prospect Craig Cathcart is also on-loan, at Watford.

A draw for United against Wolfsburg would win the group but Ferguson’s more pressing concern is being able to field a defence that can compete with the reigning Bundesliga champions.

First choice centre-back Vidic was missing from yesterday’s line-up with flu but is expected to return to form a makeshift central defensive partnership with midfielder Carrick in Germany, with Darren Fletcher starting – as he did against West Ham – at right-back.

“Evra must be the smallest centre half in the world,” said the United boss. “But he’s a good reader of the game. He’s quick and determined.

“I don’t know where I’m going to get a back four for Tuesday. Probably Nemanja Vidic will be back from flu and I’ll probably play Carrick alongside him.”

Their meeting at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on June 12 will come nearly 60 years after England, taking part in the World Cup for the first time, lost 1-0 to a ragbag American team in Belo Horizonte in the 1950 World Cup finals in Brazil.

For very different reasons, five times champions Brazil would also like to right the wrongs they suffered against Portugal in 1966 when they lost a tempestuous match 3-1 at Goodison Park in England and had Pele hacked so badly he limped off the field as Brazil lost their world title.

England and Brazil are not the only countries who would like to avenge previous heavy World Cup defeats next year after being grouped with old foes in Friday’s draw.

Hosts South Africa would love nothing more than to upset France, who beat them 3-0 in the 1998 World Cup in Marseille, when they meet in their final Group A match.

Greece, who were crushed 4-0 by Argentina in the 1994 World Cup, would like to turn the tables on their South American opponents in Group B.

BIGGEST UPSET

Nearly 60 years on, though, England’s defeat in 1950 — along with Italy’s loss to North Korea in 1966 — ranks as the biggest upset the tournament has produced.

England, boasting greats like Tom Finney, Stan Mortensen, Billy Wright and future World Cup-winning coach Alf Ramsey, failed to convert a string of chances and lost to the only goal scored by Haitian-born Joe Gaetjens after 38 minutes.

The match demolished England’s belief that they were still masters of the game they gave to the world and would win the World Cup just by turning up.

Ramsey, who led England to victory in the finals 16 years later, said it was the worst day he ever endured in his long football career.

England’s Italian coach Fabio Capello was not asked about the upset but U.S. coach Bob Bradley said it was a game still talked about back home.

“I did not think about it immediately the draw was made, but it is a game that still resonates with American fans and eventually questions will be asked about it.

“However, the real significance for me and the players is playing England today. 1950 was a long time ago but it would be nice to get the same result as we did then.”

The 1966 clash between Brazil and Portugal has never been forgotten either.

Holders Brazil had lost 3-1 to Hungary after an opening win against Bulgaria but went out after losing to Portugal who targeted an already injured Pele, forcing him to limp out of the game with a raincoat draped across his shoulders.

Their Group G meeting in Durban on June 25 will be the first time they have played each other in the World Cup since then.

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Lionel Messi lays on the turf during Barcelona’s 1-1 draw at Bilbao

The timing of the news couldn’t be worse with new league leaders Real Madrid preparing to visit Nou Camp next Sunday, with their star signing Cristiano Ronaldo hopeful of a return from his own lay-off, while Barcelona’s Champions League hopes are on the line in midweek.

Messi was replaced in the 75th minute by Bojan Krkic at San Mames with what appeared to be a torn left thigh muscle, Barcelona said.

“We took him off because he was in pain. We’ll do more tests tomorrow but the outlook is not good,” Guardiola said after the match.

Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic also missed the game with a thigh strain, while Eric Abidal and Yaya Toure were laid low with the HIN1 virus and Rafael Marquez also missed the trip to Bilbao with suspected swine flu.

The European champions host Inter Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday when a defeat combined with a win for Rubin Kazan would put them out of the competition.

Chelsea are top of the league but John Terry reckons new signings will help the Blues consolidate.

Chelsea have had a transfer ban suspended pending appeal so will be free to bring players in when the window opens again.

And with the prospect of Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, Michael Essien and John Obi Mikel heading to Angola for the African Nations Cup in January, Terry expects Ancelotti and owner Roman Abramovich to discuss some possible signings.

“It’s good news about the transfer ban being suspended but we lose four good players to the African Nations Cup in January anyway,” he told the Sun.

“I’m sure the club and the manager are looking into that and having good talks with Roman. I wouldn’t be surprised if we do go out and buy because we don’t know what’s going to happen in the summer – or the following summer.”

The January transfer is usually considered a quieter time for the “big four” clubs, with Arsenal’s purchase of Andrey Arshavin in January 2009 and Nicolas Anelka’s move to Stamford Bridge in 2008 the two major pieces of business in the last few years.

It can be a dangerous times for clubs outside the Champions League, though, as clubs like Chelsea will be looking to pick up players eligible to play in Europe’s elite competition – a good example of this is when Manchester United signed Henrik Larsson in 2007.

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Robert Enke: Germany keeper has died

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The 32-year-old died close to his home in Neustadt-Eilvese, Hannover, near a railway level crossing. “First indications point to suicide,” a media officer for the Niedersachsen police said.

Hanover president Martin Kind said: “This is a tragedy.”

Enke won eight international caps and was in the running to play at the World Cup in South Africa next year. However, he missed Germany’s last three qualifiers with a stomach virus and having just returned to action after almost two months out was omitted from the latest squad.

His national team colleagues learned of the tragic news of his death after training in Bonn on Tuesday and Germany’s general manager Oliver Bierhoff said: “We are all shocked. We are lost for words.”

The president of the German Football Association (DFB) Dr Theo Zwanziger added that he and the rest of the football community in Germany “are deeply distressed and in mourning”.

“All our sympathy goes to the wife of Robert Enke and his family,” he added.

It is not yet clear whether Germany’s friendly against Chile on Saturday will still go ahead. Die Mannschaft are due face the Ivory Coast on the following Wednesday.

Enke, born in Jena in the former East Germany, also played club football for Borussia Moenchengladbach and Benfica and had a brief spell at Barcelona before stints with Fenerbahce and Tenerife.

Enke’s daughter Lara died in 2006 of a rare heart condition when she was just two. He leaves behind his wife, Teresa, and an eight-month-old daughter the coupled had adopted.

The English Premier League leaders had asked the Lausanne-based court for a stay until the result of an appeal was decided.

The CAS said in a statement that it had granted the request, with the sanctions suspended “until the CAS renders its final decision in this matter”.

No date was given for the decision but one legal expert doubted a final verdict would be reached before March.

Chelsea were banned from registering any new players until January 2011 after being found guilty in September of inducing Gael Kakuta to break his contract with French club Racing Lens.

Kakuta was also banned from playing official matches for Chelsea for four months while the London club were ordered to pay compensation to Lens.

The punishment was handed out following a contractual dispute involving the transfer of reserve team player Kakuta, now 18, from Lens in 2007.

Midfielder Kakuta had been at Lens since he was eight, going through their schooling system. A France under-19 international, he made only five Chelsea youth team appearances last season and two for the reserves.

‘TOTALLY DISPROPORTIONATE’

The English club, who have slammed the FIFA ban as “extraordinarily arbitrary” and “totally disproportionate”, noted the CAS action on their website without further comment.

Manager Carlo Ancelotti batted off reporters’ questions, saying Chelsea were concentrating on Sunday’s home game against Manchester United and that the CAS situation would take care of itself.

Professor Ian Blackshaw, a lawyer who has worked for the CAS, told Sky Sports News that it could be some time before the matter was resolved.

“This means that Chelsea are free, if they wish to do so, to deal in the transfer market in January,” he said.

“The key question now is when will CAS hear the appeal and finally decide?

“Under the CAS procedural rules, generally speaking an appeal must be decided within four months of the pleadings having been settled, the pleadings being the statement of appeal, the answer to the appeal, any submission made in the case by the FIFA dispute resolution chamber.

“I don’t think we will get an appeal much before March or even April of next year.”

Should Chelsea make signings in January, there could be further legal complications if the ban is subsequently upheld.Ch

Fernando Torres looks dejected after missing a chance at the Stade Gerland

Ryan Babel looked to have given the visitors a much-needed victory at Stade Gerland as he fired home a stunning strike with seven minutes to go, but Lisandro Lopez burst through to make it 1-1 and ensure his side progress.

In the other game in Group E, Fiorentina look well-placed to join Lyon in the knockout stages as they thrashed Hungary’s Debrecen 5-2 at home. Adrian Mutu set them on their way in the 14th minute and, while Gergely Rudolph levelled on 38 minutes, Dario Dainelli, Ricardo Montolivo and Marco Marchionni made it 4-1 with three goals in nine minutes early in the second half. Adamo Coulibaly threatened a comeback with a header to make it 4-2 in the 70th minute, but Alberto Gilardino completed the scoring shortly afterwards.

Inter Milan staged a dramatic late comeback as they beat Dynamo Kiev 2-1 for their first win in the group stages.

Andriy Shevchenko, facing his former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, looked to have done serious damage to the Italian champions’ hopes of making the next round with his 21st-minute goal, but Diego Milito levelled four minutes before time and Wesley Sneijder clinched the win in the 89th minute. The win puts Inter top of the group.

Barcelona, meanwhile, fell to third as they drew 0-0 with Russian side Rubin Kazan. Zlatan Ibrahimovic struck the post early on for the reigning champions, but they were unable to break down a strong defensive unit and now need results in both their remaining games.

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Inter Milan’s coach Jose Mourinho celebrates his team’s late winner

Arsenal all but booked their place in the next round as they thrashed AZ Alkmaar 4-1 at Emirates Stadium.

Cesc Fabregas caught goalkeeper Sergio Romero off guard to open the scoring on 25 minutes and Samir Nasri doubled their advantage with a fine solo effort just before the break. Fabregas added his second and his team’s third with a superb finish on 52 minutes before Abou Diaby rounded off a sublime team effort for 4-0 in the 72nd minute. Jeremain Lens then grabbed a late consolation for the visitors after some poor goalkeeping from Manuel Almunia.

Standard Liege kept their hopes of reaching the next round alive as they beat Olympiakos 2-0 at home. Deludonne Mbokani fired home the first after half an hour before a Milan Jovanovic header secured the win in the dying moments.

Sevilla made it through despite dropping points for the first time as they were held 1-1 at home to VfB Stuttgart. Jesus Navas gave Sevilla an early lead, but Zdravko Kuzmanovic fired home from distance in the 78th minute to give his side a valuable point.

Rangers‘ hopes now look forlorn as they were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw at Romania’s Unirea Urziceni. Lee McCulloch looked to have kept his side in contention with a 25-yard drive as the goalkeeper failed to make the save, but substitute Marius Onofras kept Unirea in second place with a stunning strike with two minutes left on the clock.

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Angel Di Maria grapples with Everton midfielder Tim Cahill.

Di Maria is an Argentina international and showcased his talents on the European stage when playing a starring role in Benfica’s 5-0 humiliation of Everton at the Estadio da Luz on October 22.

His obvious potential has not escaped Arnesen, who is responsible for Chelsea’s scouting system, and although the club are currently appealing against a transfer ban they are still keeping abreast of market developments.

Arnesen admits that Di Maria and his Benfica team-mates, Fabio Coentrao and Javi Garcia, are all players who could interest the club at a time when they are able to enter the transfer market.

“These are good players and we need to know details about this type of footballer,” Arnesen told Portuguese publication O Jogo. “This does not signify that Chelsea are preparing contracts but it is necessary to follow the market.

“The club awaits a decision over transfers and when we will be able to next reinforce the squad.”

Chelsea have appealed against FIFA’s transfer ban which was imposed after they were found guilty of inducing Gael Kakuta to breach his contract with Lens in 2007.