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London: England remain optimistic Andrew Flintoff will be fit enough to play in the second Test against Australia at Lord's after the all-rounder's latest injury setback.
Fast bowler and middle-order batsman Flintoff twisted his right knee while fielding during the drawn first Test in Cardiff last week.
He tore the meniscus of the same knee in April while playing in the Indian Premier League and then underwent an operation which ruled him out of England's early season home series against the West Indies and the World Twenty20.
England coach Andy Flower, speaking to reporters at Lord's here on Tuesday, told reports that Flintoff, 31, had undergone a scan on Monday and that initial indications from the medical staff were encouraging.
"He saw his surgeon, I think it was the surgeon who operated on his knee quite recently. His surgeon was quite optimistic about him playing in this game," said Flower.
But with the second Test starting on Thursday, England don't have much time left to finalise their plans and such is Flintoff's importance to balancing their team that his absence could pose several problems for the selectors.
"He won't bowl today (Tuesday) but he'll have a bat and a bowl tomorrow (Wednesday) and we'll assess it and make a decision then," former Zimbabwe batsman Flower explained.
He added that Flintoff had had an injection on Monday to aid his recovery.
"The suggestion is he should be okay," Flower said. "But we can only make that decision tomorrow (Wednesday).
"I think with Fred (Flintoff) and his injury record we are always concerned to be honest, because his body is in that sort of state at this time in his career when he seems vulnerable a lot of the time.
"We can't get away from that. But he is a hell of a player and we want him in our side when he's fit."
Looking ahead, he said: "We've got to talk through the options and we've done that already. Frustrating or not, that's how it is. There's no point getting too het up about it."
England have added fast bowler Stephen Harmison to their squad, ostensibly as cover for Flintoff, although Ian Bell could come in it is the batting that the selectors decide needs strengthening.
Whatever line-up England do settle on, history is against them. Australia have not lost a Test at Lord's since 1934.
