Freddie ready to come off the leash

"It's brilliant for me knowing I can use him as a normal bowler again and not have to worry about keeping him to 12 or 14 overs. He could possibly bowl 20 overs in a day, which is great for the whole team."

Surgery was the only permanent solution to a bone spur problem that caused Flintoff more and more pain last year.

But, despite medical assurances he would be fit in time for the Ashes series, Vaughan and Co kept their fingers crossed when the 27-year-old stepped on to the comeback trail with Lancashire.

Then at Lord's last week they watched from close range as Flintoff sent down a total of 15 overs - and picked up five wickets - during the innings and 261-run demolition of Bangladesh.

Now, provided the summer's first visitors manage to make a better fist of batting before England secure their fifth consecutive series triumph, Flintoff will bowl more at the Riverside.

"We do need to get some overs into his legs to get his fitness back to 100 per cent," said Vaughan.

"You have to look at conditions and be loyal to other members of the team, but if it's a question of one bowler or another this time then Freddie will probably get the nod just to get some more overs into him."

Flintoff is a certainty for the Ashes series, of course - fitness permitting.

And the chances of Graham Thorpe adding to the 100th Test cap which was awaiting him today seem better and better every time Vaughan talks about his veteran middle-order batsman.

"I'll fully back him because he's been a fantastic player, not just for me but for England over a long period of time," said Vaughan.

"It's not often you get players averaging 44- plus for your national team. We should cherish them and try to keep him playing as long as possible.

"Graham is a real worker and I know his ambition is to make sure he's playing in that last Test of the summer against Australia at The Oval."

Thorpe's decision to retire from international cricket at the end of the season means England have to think about a replacement - and the most obvious candidate, Kevin Pietersen, could be too hot to hold back if he puts in some storming one-day performances against Australia before the Ashes series.

But 35-year-old Thorpe has plenty of credit in the bank.

"The one thing I always think of Thorpey is when we need runs, he gets them," said Vaughan. "And his experience with a relatively inexperienced team has been invaluable.

"He's also averaged around 50 over the last couple of years and that's a very good record for someone whose eyes are going, or so I keep hearing."