Vaughan confident over fitness

Michael Vaughan's knee is healing well and he is on target for the tour of India © Getty Images

Michael Vaughan is confident that he will be fit for the tour of India in February. The England captain missed the one-day series against Pakistan to return home for surgery on a long-standing knee problem, which had forced him out of the first Test at Multan and affected him for the other two matches.

He has yet to return to full training following his operation. However, he has made sufficient progress to remain optimistic about leading the squad on the tour, which consists of three Tests and seven one-day internationals.

"The injury is fine," Vaughan told the Press Association. "I've taken a really positive step in the last two weeks and I've been able to get on the machines and work very hard for two or three hours a day.

"I don't think it will be a problem for me getting on the plane with the rest of the lads in February. It's moving nicely, but I don't want to say too much too soon because I've not done any running or twisting and turning yet - and that's going to be the real test for me."

England name their squad for the second leg of their sub-continental winter on Friday, with Vaughan one of three key players aiming to return after injuries. Ashley Giles is progressing well after an operation on his hip, while Simon Jones is recovering from the bone spur that forced him to miss the final Test against Australia and the Pakistan trip.