Deano nominated for player of the round

Dean Ashton has been nominated for The FA's prestigious FA Cup 'Player of the Round' award following his Sixth Round performance against Manchester City earlier this week.

Deano's double strike booked our place in the semi-finals in a thrilling match at the City of Manchester Stadium. His fourth and fifth goals for the Club, either side of half time, knocked Manchester City out of the competition and secured his nomination in the Player of the Round awards.

Hammers fans are now being urged to show their support by voting for Ashton in an on-line poll at www.thefa.com before the deadline of 9.00am on Friday, March 31.

Ashton is one of four Premiership players short-listed for The FA Cup Player of the Round award, run in partnership with UMBRO. The others are Liverpool Captain Steven Gerrard, Chelsea skipper John Terry and Middlesbrough defender Ugo Ehiogu.

If Ashton receives the most votes, in addition to being crowned FA Cup 'Player of the Round', he will win £1,000 worth of UMBRO football kit for a local school, club or organisation of his choice.

Ashton would be the 10th player and the third Premiership player to join The FA's Team of The FA Cup this season, guaranteeing him VIP attendance at the 125th FA Cup final on May 13.

Sir Trevor Brooking, The FA's Director of Football Development, said: "Dean thoroughly deserves to be nominated for The FA Cup Player of the Round award after his tireless display and excellent goals. As an unashamed West Ham fan, it gave me particular pleasure to see Dean secure a place in The FA Cup Semi-Finals.

"Now fans, family and friends have the chance to show their support by trying to help him win £1,000 worth of UMBRO kit, to boost grass roots football in the community, and to try and secure him a VIP place at the 125th FA Cup final."

The Team of The FA Cup comprises Player of the Round winners from the First Qualifying Round to the Semi-Final. This year's team already includes Gosport Borough's Jamie Laidlaw, Northwich Victoria's Paul Brayson (who has won the award twice this season), Leamington's Alex Rodman, Eastbourne Borough's Stuart Tuck, Doncaster Rovers' Dave Mulligan and Nuneaton Borough's Gez Murphy. The Premiership players already in the team are Liverpool's Jamie Carragher and Bolton's Ricardo Gardner.

Players were nominated by a team of panellists including Radio 5 Live's Mark Clemmit, The Daily Telegraph's Ricky George, Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday anchorman Jeff Stelling and David Watters, news editor of The Non League Paper.