In the 2003–04 season, he scored 19 league goals in the First Division, including his first Football League hat-trick in a 3–2 win at the JJB Stadium against Wigan Athletic on 6 March 2004 – a match in which he converted two penalties. During the season, Ashton was reportedly linked to a number of clubs, Wolves were among the clubs interested in signing the striker at the time, however Dario Gradi regarded all the rumours as just speculation. Having previously played for England at Under-19 level, he stepped up to the under-21 team that season, scoring against the Netherlands and Sweden.