Former England coach David Lloyd belives Andrew Flintoff will overcome his latest ankle injury setback and return as a fully-fledged all-rounder later this summer. The 29-year-old Lancastrian's ability to perform with bat and ball at the highest level has been compromised by the latest in a series of ankle injuries.
Which has ruled him out of the current Test series against West Indies. Flintoff is due to have an exploratory operation on his left ankle this weekend to determine the extent of the damage, although some critics already claim he may never again be able to function as a top-class all-rounder. But Lloyd, Flintoff's former Lancashire coach and now a Sky Sports commentator, believes he has the drive and determination to return and perform in with bat, ball and in the field.
"I don't think he's changed at all from when I first met him as a teenager - he's always been very determined," said Lloyd, who signed Flintoff for Lancashire back in 1994.
"I think he'll be fine. He has got an injury that is just lingering and I think he'll come back as an all-rounder because that's what he is. "People say he's a bowler who bats a bit these days, but that's rubbish - he's an all-rounder. I'm sure he'll want to come back and be in the game all the time.
"He wants to bowl, he wants to bat, he wants to field, he wants to be involved at every opportunity and I don't think he would want to have just one aspect of the game to concentrate on."
Flintoff made a successful return from an ankle injury in 2005, becoming man of the series during England's triumphant Ashes series and Lloyd is expecting a similar response this time. "When he's come back before, he's always come back faster and fitter than before and I've no doubt that will happen this time, it's just that this injury is lingering a bit," he said.