Freddie vows to beat injury jinx

Andrew Flintoff believes his ankle surgeon has finally cured his long-standing problem which looks set to keep him on the sidelines until next summer.

The injury-jinxed all-rounder underwent his fourth ankle operation this year earlier this month.

And he believes surgeon Niek van Dijk has at last found the solution to his persistent injury problems that have threatened to curtail his career.

Flintoff said: "Professor Van Dijk is more than happy with what he has done and confident he has got to the bottom of the problem.

"I'm confident I can come back. It will be hard work again but I've been through lots of rehab programmes so I know what is involved.

"We have a lot of time so the ankle can heal naturally. Time is one thing we have in our favour so there is absolutely no need to rush things."

Flintoff has struggled to reach the heights since his 2005 Ashes heroics and was clearly in pain in his last outing for England during last month's inaugural ICC World Twenty20 tournament in South Africa.

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