Dean Ashton broke onto the scene in January 2001 and soon became an instant hit showing something fresh inside the team. Everything he touched turned into gold and newspaper’s built him up to be the best young English player around. He struck up a partnership with Rob Hulse almost instantly and between them scored 16 valuable goals from January to the end of the season and kept us away from relegation.
His second season was packed full of expectation and went into the season carrying a knee injury that needed operating on. Dario told fans that Ashton wouldn't be our saviour and we refused to believe him. The expectations were something a 17-18 year old couldn't carry and was expected to produce moments of magic every time he touched the ball.
On ITV's Premiership on Saturday you saw their pundits facing the question of why Wayne Rooney is only the shadow of the player he was last season. They also thought the reason was the expectations are far too high for someone of his age.
Ashton never quite recovered his form with injuries knocking him back everytime he got going and soon expectations were going sour and fans weren't having the performance's he put in. Last season he showed some Premiership quality performances at place's like Luton Town and Plymouth, where he got ovation's from away fans when he was subbed.
These performances were rare and this season got off to a slow start. The Watford game sparked it all off, fans saying they don't want to see Ashton play for Crewe again. Fans blasting him for being lazy. Fans saying he only plays for himself. Neil Baker's post-match interview certainly ruffled a few feathers calling Ashton's performance a disgrace.
Since, though, you would be laughed at for calling the 20 year old any of those. He's played his guts out for every game since and hasn't quite got the goals he deserves. Saturday was the latest game to see how Deano has returned from the flack. Determination, excellent attacking play and some vision that the very best would be proud of. Whilst the team looked flat and Norwich dictating the game Dean Ashton was the most threatening man on the pitch.
For the past 9 matches we've seen Ashton slowly return to the player and wonderkid he was 2 years ago. He's not quite there yet and there is still to come from him but he's still the special player he was. Papers are on his trail again and rating him at £1.5million is quite laughable. England U-21 striker who has the potential to score 20+ goals a season in this division whilst on a contract till 2007 - why should we be asking for less than £3.5million-£4million at this time?
I can't see any club with the money to be after Ashton, and the Wolves story is probably 90% bollocks, but if anyone did enquire then anything below £3.5million would be giving him away.
I think Ashton can be a consistently class striker and getting the goals Hulse got and I don't believe this is just a purple patch. Ashton is ready to show what he can do.