Flintoff confident over fitness

Andrew Flintoff is convinced his ankle surgeon has finally cured his long-standing problem.

The England all-rounder underwent his fourth ankle operation earlier this month, and thinks surgeon Niek van Dijk has at last found the solution to his persistent injury problems.

"Professor van Dijk is more than happy with what he has done and confident he has got to the bottom of the problem. I'm confident I can come back," Flintoff told The Sun.

"It will be hard work again but I've been through lots of rehab programmes so I know what is involved.

"We have a lot of time so the ankle can heal naturally. Time is one thing we have in our favour so there is absolutely no need to rush things."

Flintoff has struggled to reach the heights since his 2005 Ashes heroics and was clearly in pain in his last outing for England at the World Twenty20.