Flintoff set for Champions Trophy

Andrew Flintoff looks certain to return ahead of schedule by featuring for England in next month's Champions Trophy tournament in India.

The Lancashire all-rounder had been expected to face a race against time for this winter's Ashes series after being forced to undergo a second operation on his left ankle earlier this summer. But Flintoff, currently continuing his rehabilitation programme in Portugal, is recovering ahead of schedule and is now being considered as part of the 14-man Champions Trophy squad.

"There has been talk about him in the initial stages of playing as a batsman, but assuming he doesn't have any problems with his rehabilitation he will definitely be in the shake-up," confirmed chairman of selectors David Graveney.

England, in accordance with the other nations in the tournament, have to submit their squad by next Thursday to the International Cricket Council who will then reveal them once all are in.

Graveney, though, is becoming increasingly confident Flintoff could board the plane to India and give a timely boost to England's one-day line-up.

"Because of the timeline we've been given by the ICC of September 7 we're going to have to put people in there who we're not quite sure about," explained Graveney on BBC Radio 5 Live.

"We will obviously consult closely with our medical staff, but I would say it's extremely positive that Freddie has got a chance of going."

Flintoff is able to bat, run and field but is yet to fully test his ankle out bowling and England will be reluctant to risk that side of his game too soon and put his participation in the Ashes series in doubt.

Should he be included in the Champions Trophy squad, Flintoff would almost certainly be awarded the captaincy ahead of Andrew Strauss, who has led the side ever since the end of the Test series against Sri Lanka earlier this summer.