Deano ready for 'Pool

Yesterday Ashton was again the target for speculation regarding his future at the club after certain lazy journalists decided Newcastle were about to make a bid for the 24-year-old.

He explained to the official site, "I got a dead leg off the keeper on Wednesday night and from the collision with him I ended up having a slight back problem as well.

"The muscles were still in spasm on Friday so I wasn't able to travel to Manchester for the league game but after having worked with our back specialist here over the weekend I feel fine. I returned to full training yesterday and felt good over the last two days and so I will definitely be available for contention against Liverpool.