Ashdown Confident Despite Injury Scare

Last updated : 04 September 2002 By Rob Cooper
Highly-rated 21-year-old Ashdown, who has appeared for the Royals first team five times, has spent the past few weeks on loan at Third Division Bournemouth in order to gain some valuable first team experience.

However, whilst putting in a fantastic during the Cherries 1-0 win against Macclesfield last weekend he sustained injuries to his thumb and knee.

The injuries were incurred whilst the shotstopper made a highly impressive double save.

Following the set-back Ashdown has spent some time back in Reading recuperating. He is confident that he can be fit for Bournemouth's next game against Exeter on Saturday.

Speaking to readingfc.co.uk the Bournemouth loanee said: "I've got a problem with my knee at the moment, I've not trained since last week so I'm trying to strengthen it up a bit. I've been swimming today and I'm trying to do a bit more tomorrow.

"Hopefully I'll be able to train on Friday then play on Saturday. I've also got a bruised thumb but that's nothing serious. Things are going well at Bournemouth, we beat Macclesfield last weekend. Everything's good."

Ashdown signed a one-month loan deal with the South-Cost side, however, if Phil Whitehead chooses to stay with Reading it could be extended.