USA defender Jonathan Spector is convinced Dean Ashton's long-delayed England debut will be worth the wait.The West Ham striker is expected to win his first senior cap at Wembley on Wednesday night when the Americans are the visitors for a friendly.

Ashton had been in line to wear the three lions in August 2006 but found his career suddenly on hold after suffering a broken ankle in a training session as the national team, then under Steve McClaren, prepared for a friendly with Greece.

It took Ashton, 24, a year to get back in the Hammers first team but again fitness concerns robbed him of a national-team debut when he pulled out of a friendly with Estonia a year ago.

But now, ten months later, England manager Fabio Capello has decided to give him a third chance to represent his country.

And Ashton's West Ham colleague Spector is confident the former Norwich frontman, who finished the Barclays Premier League season with five goals in the last eight games, will be able to take it.

He said: "It was really disappointing for him to get such a serious ankle injury.

"It took him a long while to get back from it but in the last few games of the season he was in great form and it is great to see him back in the England set-up.

"He is very nearly back to his best, if not there yet. He is a great finisher - so who wouldn't want that on their team? He has great technical ability as well."

England will follow up the Wembley fixture with another friendly against Trinidad and Tobago, but their failure to qualify for the Euro 2008 finals means there will be no competitive games this summer.

Bob Bradley's USA squad have much more to look forward to as their qualifying campaign for the 2010 World Cup finals begins with a double-header against Barbados next month following friendlies with Spain and Argentina.

Spector insists the Americans will not be going through the motions at Wembley with one eye on the more meaningful fixtures.

He said: "This game is really important to us. We don't get together very often and it is a great stage.

"We were disappointed with our last showing in the World Cup and we want to move on."

Moving on at club level is not on the former Manchester United and Charlton man's agenda, however, despite West Ham's decision to cut back on squad numbers for next season.

The 22-year-old said: "I certainly want to stay at the club. The fanbase is fantastic and the support we have had in the last two seasons has been great.

"The club is extremely ambitious and something I want to be a part of. I am fairly certain I will be staying."

West Ham finished 10th in the Barclays Premier League this term - achieved despite an horrendous injury list - representing a major improvement on the previous season which had seen relegation avoided only on the final day.

But the American insists the players will have to set their sights even higher next time around.

He said: "We did fairly well as a team this year considering the injury situation but I know the fans, the players and the board expect more next season."

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