Michael Bailey Adam Drury admits he is "absolutely gutted" for his former Norwich City team-mate Dean Ashton, who was forced to retire from football earlier this month.

Michael Bailey

Adam Drury admits he is “absolutely gutted” for his former Norwich City team-mate Dean Ashton, who was forced to retire from football earlier this month.

Ashton spent a year alongside Drury at Carrow Road, shared between the Premier League and Championship, in 2005.

But the 26-year-old's failure to recover from a broken ankle suffered while training with England, in August 2006, left the striker with no option but to quit the game.

“I haven't spoken to him since but I did speak to him during the build up a little while back and he knew then he was struggling a little bit,” said Drury.

“It's a great shame because Ash is a great player and I think he would have had a better career than even he had had now, in terms of going on to play for one of the top four teams - no doubt about that - and for England.

“I'm absolutely gutted for him. He made a massive impact in his time here and not just that, but he is a nice lad. You don't wish it on anybody but when it is a top lad like Ash, it's very disappointing.

“I can appreciate what he has been through. I've had my own injuries, never the thought that I would have to quit but obviously you come back from things and then you get a set back and it must be soul destroying.

“But Ash is a good lad and I'm sure he will come back and find something else to do.”

Ashton joined the Canaries in the Premier League from Crewe for �3.5million in January 2008, and went on to score 18 goals in 46 games as City suffered relegation and the striker left for a club record �7.25m move to West Ham in January the following year.