Ashton, 24, continued his sharp form with both goals in the Hammers' opening-day Barclays Premier League win over Wigan last week, only to then limp off with a calf strain.

The injury kept him out of contention for the friendly against the Czech Republic at Wembley on Wednesday night.

However, with England manager Fabio Capello - who put both Jermain Defoe and then Emile Heskey up front - seemingly in favour of a lone striker ahead of Manchester United's Wayne Rooney, the Hammers boss sees no reason why that should not be the former Norwich man.

"If he is going to play with one and wants someone to hold the ball up, bring others into the game and then take a chance when it is presented, then I do think if a ball drops to Deano in the penalty box, then something is going to happen," said Curbishley, who takes his men up to Manchester City tomorrow.

"If he is going to play with a lone striker and Rooney coming from deep, flooding the midfield, then perhaps he will take a look at Dean.

"Whether that is in the qualifiers, we will have to wait and see."

Curbishley added: "Deano started off really well against Wigan and now has another game to impress, like so many players - [goalkeeper] Rob Green is another one here who must come into Capello's thinking.

"All they can do is to keep plugging away."

The Hammers often deployed just one striker away from home last season.

However, Curbishley maintains that was more to do with fit personnel than tactics.

"If you look at it, I basically only did it when I was in a position with not too many people available," the Hammers boss said.

"When we went to Man City last year - they had had a great start as we'd found out ourselves when they beat us at Upton Park - they were very effective with Elano in the hole in a 4-3-3 or 4-5-1.

"I was in a position where Carlton Cole was the only fit forward on occasions. We will see where we go at the weekend."

The Hammers boss is no stranger to the behind-the-scenes activities which can unsettle the team's performance on the pitch.

City have certainly had their fair share of off-field distractions surrounding controversial owner Thaksin Shinawatra, who turned to former Wales boss Mark Hughes in the summer after dispensing with the services of ex-England head coach Sven-Goran Eriksson.

However, Curbishley believes Hughes, who improved the fortunes of Blackburn, has the strength of character to ensure continued progress.

He said: "Mark Hughes knows what he is doing, and he has been very successful. I do not see that changing.

"Once he gets bedded in at Manchester City, they will be a decent side.

"Last season they finished in the top half and then came under pressure from injuries near the end, so I am expecting them to do okay this year."