Flintoff may face knee operation

Andrew Flintoff may be struggling to play in the ICC Champions Trophy after the ECB revealed he may require another operation on his knee.

In a statement, the ECB clarified his treatment process, following his withdrawal from the fourth Test Match against Australia.

"In order to give Andrew a chance of playing in the 2nd and 3rd npower Test matches, he received a series of artificial synovial fluid injections into the knee joint and cortisone injections into some of the bursa on the outside of the knee joint to help settle the inflammation," said the ECB statement.

"There have been some media reports of repeated cortisone injections into the knee to mask the injury, but these reports are inaccurate.

"Andrew has shown great determination and selflessness making a conscious decision to push through discomfort in order to help the England team reclaim the Ashes. This is in the knowledge that a further operation is a possibility.

"Andrew is still very keen to play in the 5th npower Test at The Brit Oval and a decision on this will be made in due course. He will not be exposed to undue risk or masking injections and any decision regarding his participation in the 5th npower Test will be made in conjunction with the ECB, his surgeon and the Lancashire medical team."

England is required to name a 15-man squad for the tournament later this month.