Dean Ashton faces axe at West Ham after Gianfranceo Zola fitness fears

Dean Ashton faces an uncertain future at West Ham after his boss Gianfranco Zola axed him from the club's preseason plans.

Hammers chiefs were unhappy with the England striker's fitness when he reported back for training and left him out of their 10-day trip to Austria - despite taking other injured players.

Mirror Sport understands Ashton will also be frozen out of the club's forthcoming trip to China, where they will play Spurs and Hull or Beijing. Senior figures at Upton Park are frustrated at

Ashton's inability to even train and it is understood Zola is planning for the new season without the £7million man.

Ashton - who has had an ankle injury since last season - has made just 46 appearances for West Ham in four seasons and is on £70,000 a week.

He signed a new five-year deal at Upton Park last season yet has never played for Zola or even trained since September last year.

Zola is stepping up his efforts to bring in Eidur Gudjohnsen because Ashton's injury problems mean Carlton Cole and Luis Jimenez are the Hammers' only experienced frontmen.

Stoke are keen on Ashton, 25, and could now renew their attempts to sign him.