Vaughan wants Freddie back
England need Andrew Flintoff playing again
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Thursday, 01, Nov 2007 08:15
England captain Michael Vaughan has backed team-mate Andrew Flintoff to overcome his ankle injury nightmare.
But the skipper has warned the all-rounder that he may have only one more chance to rebuild his international career.
Flintoff has had a fourth operation on his left ankle which has plagued his England career since the historic Ashes win in 2005.
He has tried to make comebacks on several occasions, only to break down again.
The 29-year-old has been ruled out of the upcoming tours of Sri Lanka and New Zealand, but is undergoing a rehabilitation programme in America in the hope of being fit for the summer.
"I just want to see him back playing," Vaughan said.
"I know he's going through a tough period. He's over in America in rehab for his ankle.
"I think it's his fourth ankle operation. It's his 'last chance saloon' and we should all get behind him and give him every opportunity to try and come back.
"He's a great person to have around the team and I'm certainly looking forward to getting him back in there, hopefully some time next year."
Flintoff has been one of the world's premier all-rounders for many years and Vaughan believes the England team needs the big Lancastrian in order to compete against the best teams in the world.
"I want him back in the England team because without him we're a lot less of a side," the England captain continued.
"We need Freddie back in that side batting at six or seven, bowling like he can, hitting the ball like he can.
"With Freddie in the side you guarantee yourself five bowlers. With Freddie not in the side you're changing the formula into four bowlers and maybe a fifth bowler in Colly [Paul Collingwood] or myself or Kevin Pietersen.
"Freddie is the key to getting five bowlers in the side, it's not to say that without Freddie we can't be successful, it just helps when you have him."