WHO NEEDS CARLOS TÉVEZ WHEN YOU have Dean Ashton? Robert Green, the West Ham United goalkeeper, believes that Ashton’s return from injury after 11 months out with a broken ankle will more than compensate for the imminent departure of Tévez, who is expected to complete his complicated transfer to Manchester United this week.

While Tévez, the skilful Argentina forward, was on international duty preparing for his country’s Copa America final against Brazil in Venezuela last night, Ashton was making his comeback for West Ham as a half-time substitute in Saturday’s 2-0 victory away to Dagenham & Redbridge in a testimonial match for Tony Roberts, the home team’s goalkeeper.

Green, who, like Ashton, will be aiming to get back into the England squad this season, said: “Carlos is a great player and if he’s here then great; if he’s not, then there are other great players, like Deano, who is a huge asset to the club. Hopefully, he can get through preseason, battle through any aches and pains, stay fit and play the whole season.

“I’ve not played in the same West Ham team with him, but when we were at Norwich he was the focal point of the attack, the player others would bounce off, and he would bring a lot of attributes to the side. Carlos is very different. He’s a spark, he’s a livewire and he gives you something else. The two players play in the same position but very differently and just as effectively.”

Yet West Ham fans among the capacity 5,657 crowd who crammed into the Victoria Road ground on Saturday feared the worst after Ashton was left rolling around on the turf in agony only five minutes into his comeback after a crude challenge by Jon Boardman, the uncompromising Dagenham defender with little regard for reputation or safety.

“I wasn’t worried when I saw Deano go down because I think he milked it a bit,” Alan Curbishley, the West Ham manager, joked. “In fairness, it probably did him good because not many people want to kick you like that in training and he has to get used to that again.”

Ashton, who had not kicked a ball since breaking an ankle while training with England last August, responded by heading Luis Boa Morte’s cross against the bar in the 64th minute before Mark Noble, the England Under21 mid-field player, broke the deadlock with a 20-yard free kick in the 83rd minute. Ross Smith, Dagenham’s recent recruit from Ebbsfleet United, gave the scoreline some respectability for the visitors when he headed Boa Morte’s corner into his own net three minutes later.

Curbishley fielded virtually a different lineup in each half. Craig Bellamy, the club’s record £7.5 million signing from Liverpool, was absent as he continues to build up his fitness, although he will travel with the squad on their preseason tour to Austria.