"These things are down to the subject, how he reacts and improves.
"He had something causing problems with the cartilage in his ankle but because of his previous injuries it couldn't be a quick thing because they don't want to do any more damage."
"I've had problems at the club and so many things going on. But we'll face it all and we'll come through because we are strong."
Since breaking his ankle in August 2006, Ashton has been plagued by injuries.
He signed a new five-year deal with West Ham in June shortly after winning his first England cap in the friendly against Trinidad & Tobago.
Ashton, who scored 11 goals last season, joined West Ham from Norwich for £7.25m in January 2006 and helped the club to the FA Cup final, where they lost on penalties to Liverpool.
His performances that season earned him an England call-up for the friendly with Greece in August 2006.
But he broke his ankle in training for that game and missed the whole of the 2006-07 season, and also suffered injuries during the 2007-08 campaign.
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