Ben Stokes has revealed that he is hoping to return to fitness in time for England's final Test match with Pakistan in a fortnight.
The 25-year-old was ruled out of the upcoming third match in the series after tearing a muscle in his calf during England's convincing win at Old Trafford last week.
Stokes had only returned to action weeks earlier following knee surgery in May, and has now revealed that he is undergoing intensive ice therapy to give himself a chance of making the fourth Test at The Oval on August 11.
"I've got to be careful not to rush back," Stokes told the Daily Mail. "If you rush back too early from calf problems you can end up doing more damage if they've not healed 100%. That decision will be left in the hands of the medical team.
"It's bitterly frustrating. Especially after working so hard for six or seven weeks to get back into the team.
"My next target is to further my chances to be fit for the fourth Test. If that doesn't happen then I've got a bit of time to get myself fit for the one-dayers. Saying I'm optimistic of playing in the fourth Test may be a little bit much but I'm doing everything I can to get myself fit."
England and Pakistan go into Wednesday's third Test at Edgbaston with the series levelled at 1-1.
