England star Ashton set to sign new deal

The striker, who is set to start for England against the USA at Wembley tonight, wanted assurances about his future following speculation linking him with a move to Newcastle.

Since the end of the season, though, Hammers chief executive Scott Duxbury and Ashton's representatives have been in contact and there was a further meeting yesterday.

It is understood the talks went well and Ashton, whose current deal has two years left to run, is now expected to sign a new, long-term contract when he returns from England's friendly in Trinidad on Sunday.

The 24-year-old can expect a pay rise from his current £30,000-a-week earnings to put him in line with the club's top earners.

"The talks so far have been very positive," said Duxbury. "We are meeting with Dean and his representatives in the early part of next week with the aim of concluding a new, long-term contract."

The news that Ashton is staying will be a boost to the club, since the former Crewe and Norwich striker, who has battled back from a serious ankle injury, is a firm favourite among the fans.

Either Ashton or Jermain Defoe will link up with Wayne Rooney in attack tonight, with England coach Fabio Capello able to chose from an entire squad of fit players. Frank Lampard will play in the centre of midfield alongside United's Owen Hargreaves, with Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard on the left rather than Chelsea's Joe Cole.

Blackburn's David Bentley will be preferred to David Beckham, while Portsmouth's Glen Johnson looks likely to start at right-back ahead of Wes Brown.

Chelsea's Ashley Cole, despite being bothered by an ankle injury, looks likely to play at left-back, with club-mate Wayne Bridge or Blackburn's Stephen Warnock replacing him for the Trinidad match.

Capello looks likely to name Aston Villa's Gareth Barry as the last of his four 'triallist' captains when England travel to the West Indies on Sunday.

Chelsea skipper John Terry will wear the armband tonight for his last game of the season. Barry is the last of the four leaders to be tried out by Capello, the other two being Gerrard and Rio Ferdinand. The England coach will then decide on his permanent captain for next season's World Cup qualifying matches and have him in place for the August friendly against the Czech Republic.

Capello will allow most of the Chelsea and United players involved in Moscow a week ago to miss the trip to Trinidad but the Italian will ask for some representation from the two clubs, with Ferdinand being one more likely to travel.