Vaughan confident of swift return
Vaughan has played one Test since England's Ashes triumph in 2005
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Monday, 14, May 2007 09:45
England captain Michael Vaughan is targeting the second Test against the West Indies to make his comeback from his latest injury.
The 32-year-old has been ruled out of Thursday's first Test against the Windies at Lords after suffering a broken finger while batting for Yorkshire.
Vaughan will be replaced by Andrew Strauss as skipper for the start of England's home series against Ramnaresh Sarwan's side.
But the injury-plagued batsman insists he is confident of playing at his home ground of Headingley for the second Test on May 25th.
"Hopefully by the end of the week I'll be hitting balls in the nets and putting as much pressure on my finger as I can," Vaughan told Sky Sports News.
"I can just about afford to miss one game, but I've given myself a great opportunity of playing in the second game."
Vaughan last played a Test for England 17 months ago against Pakistan.
He missed last year's home series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan along with the crushing Ashes defeat due to a series of career-threatening knee problems.
Vaughan admitted it would have been a huge gamble to pass himself fit for Thursday's opening Test.
"If it had been down to me I would have probably just gone out and played," Vaughan added.
"My heart was telling me to play, but my head told me it's silly to risk it.
"If I'd taken one more blow on the finger and displaced it I'd have been out for eight weeks so I think it's the right decision.
"I don't think that a painkilling injection would have worked with this broken finger."